Work on Trans Asean Gas Pipeline project on schedule
Tuesday, June 24 2003 - 12:05 AM WIB
The seven identified gas pipelines interconnecting routes are Malaysia-Singapore; Yadana and Yetagun (Myanmar)-Ratchaburi (Thailand); West Natuna (Indonesia)-Singapore; Camago-Malampaya in the Philippines; West Natuna-Duyong (Malaysia); Malaysia- Thailand Joint Development Area (JDA); and South Sumatra-Singapore.
Energy, Communications and Multimedia Ministry secretary general Datuk Dr Halim Shafie said these routes have been either in operation or under development since 1991.
?Even the controversial Thai-Malaysian gas pipeline project of the JDA, which is part of the TAGP, is expected to be onstream by 2005,? he said at a media conference in Kuala Lumpur yesterday to announce the 21st Asean Ministers of Energy Meeting (Amem).
The Amem meeting will be held in Langkawi on July 3. Asean, the Association of South-East Asian Nations, groups Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
Halim said the Malaysia-Singapore gas pipeline project was the first project under the TAGP, operational since 1991. This was followed by the Yadana-Ratchaburi and Yetagun-Ratchaburi routes which have been in operation since 1998 and 2000, respectively.
The West Natuna-Singapore gas pipeline project came onstream in December 2000, followed by Camago-Malampaya in the Philippines in October 2001.
The development of West Natuna-Duyong has started since October last year, while the development of the South Sumatra-Singapore pipeline began this year.
However, Halim said the 4,500km gas pipeline project, which involves the laying of pipes undersea and onshore, is actually a long-term one. ?We expect all the projects to be completed and fully operational by 2020.?
Halim further said that the progress of the TAGP will be discussed and presented at Amem in Langkawi. The Asean Gas Consultative Council, set up to look into the legal aspects of the TAGP project, will present its findings at the meeting.
The council, now chaired by the Philippines, is also expected to deliberate on the proposal to set up joint ventures, which will involve the participation of private sectors in Asean countries.
?The Asean energy ministers have agreed to the concept. Details on the proposal are being work out by the consultative council,? he said.
The TAGP is expected to dominate the 21st Amem, which will be preceded by meetings of senior officials.
Amem is an annual forum of Asean energy ministers that serves as a platform to promote cooperation in the energy sector among member countries. The last Amem was held in Bali, Indonesia, in 2002.
Other main programmes which will be discussed at the forum include the Asean Power Grid; energy efficiency and conservation; new and renewable sources of energy; coal; and regional energy outlook, policy and environmental analysis.
On the Asean Power Grid, Halim said the regional master plan study on the project had been completed and will be presented at the forum.
?The highlights of the study will be made know at the forum,? he said, adding that Asean has identified 14 interconnecting projects, with some already being implemented in the region.(*)