ASEAN to keep using more alternative energy

SINGAPORE, October 30 (TNA) - The ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting, the 36th of its kind, or the 36th AMEM, has resolved to increase the consumption of alternative energy by all member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) by 30 per cent by 2030. Thai Energy Minister Siri Jirapongphan, who is attending the 36th AMEM in Singapore during October 30-31, told TNA of the resolution to comply with the agreement at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 21). According to the Thai minister, he also held tripartite talks with his Lao and Malaysian counterparts on the sidelines of the first day of the 36th AMEM, during which Malaysia proposed, among other issues, to purchase more electricity from Lao PDR through the power cable system in Thailand, from 100 megawatts currently to 300 megawatts in the future, in order to meet the rising domestic demand. The minister said the Thai side will, thus, look into a plan on expanding the country's power cable system in the Thai Far South to cater for the new agreement between Kuala Lumpur and Vientiane. Meanwhile, Patana Sangsriroujana, Deputy Governor for Strategy of the state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), stated that EGAT has planned to expand the capacity of its high voltage power transmission line in the Thai Deep South to 500 kilovolt to cater for the Malaysian-Lao power deal. (TNA)