IT HAS been a big year for the Energy Department at the
Prime Minister's Office (EDPMO) who was on its toes throughout setting up the
Tenaga Suria Brunei Photovoltaic (PV) Power Generation
Demonstration Project (TSB) on
May 26, hosting the 29th Asean Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) and its
related meetings here, organising Brunei's first energy expo as well as
restructuring residential electricity tariffs for power consumption.
With dire intentions to see
Brunei's energy sector soar to greater heights and become sustainable, EDPMO
also revealed the nation's Energy White Paper (EWP) Draft.
These various initiatives and
events which unfolded in 2011 are to assist the sector in reaching its targets
before 2035.
Setting up of TSB Photovoltaic
(PV) Power Generation Demonstration Project
His Majesty the Sultan and Yang
Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam officially inaugurated the start-up of TSB on
May 26, a solar plant in Seria which began its test run on supplying power to
residents in the area last May.
The TSB is the largest solar
power demonstration plant in Southeast Asia, and apart from being tasked to
identify the most suitable photovoltaic (PV) technology for the local weather
conditions, the project will also serve to provide training to locals on
operating and maintaining a solar plant.
It is aimed at increasing
public awareness on the potential of solar as a source of clean and renewable
energy by way of holding seminars and technical presentations.
The TSB currently provides
sufficient power for about 200 homes, generating some 1,344 megawatt-hours of
electricity per year. Each year, the solar plant is expected to save some
340,000 litres of crude oil and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emission by 960
tonnes, representing the CO2 absorption power of approximately 260 hectares of
forest.
Setting up of National Energy
Efficiency and Conservation (EEC) Committee
The National EEC Committee,
co-chaired by the Ministry of Development, Ministry of Communications, Ministry
of Industry and Primary Resources and EDPMO was set-up earlier this year, to
explore various EEC initiatives for the short, medium and long-term, indicating
the determination and commitment of the government for EEC initiatives to be
carried out across government agencies.
They had their first meeting on
August 28, and Energy Minister at EDPMO Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd)
Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Mohd Yasmin Hj Umar said the formation of the committee
indicated the determination and commitment of the government for EEC
initiatives to be carried out across government agencies.
Revelation of Energy White
Paper Draft
The Energy White Paper Draft,
which was revealed during the Brunei Energy Expo (BEE 2011) last September, has
10 key performance indicators (KPIs).
Its first is to sustain reserve
replacement ratio of more than one; (2) double oil production from 400,000
barrels of oil equivalent per day to 800,000; (3) increase economic output from
the downstream industry from under $0.5 billion to more than $5 billion; (4)
reduce energy intensity by 25 per cent; (5) improve the reliability of
electricity supply by six times; (6) expand share of renewable in electricity
to 10 per cent; (7) increase local contents in the total energy spending to 60
per cent; (8) create 50,000 employment opportunities; (9) produce 5,000
Bruneian professionals; and (10) develop five Bruneian companies to compete
regionally.
In relation to the draft, EDPMO
has also been placing emphasis on diversifying oil and gas through downstream
undertakings, and talks on luring foreign direct investments (FDI) in setting
up biofuel facilities.
Brunei hosts the 29th AMEM
meeting and its related meetings
EDPMO successfully hosted the
29th AMEM, its related meetings and the Asean Energy Business Forum 2011 in
September.
It provided a platform for
energy ministers to raise and discuss pressing issues on energy and energy
related matters faced by the regional bloc.
During the joint opening
ceremony for the 29th AMEM, its related meetings and the Asean Energy Business
Forum 2011, Pehin Dato Hj Mohd Yasmin said with fluctuating crude oil prices
being remaining concern for many economies, energy security is top priority on
the list of common challenges for the Asean region.
He said there was the need to
ensure a sustainable and clean environment through the implementation of
various initiatives, which include new and renewable energy sources, as well as
to encourage use of energy efficient vehicles.
The minister added this is also
in direct connection to efforts in developing low-carbon emission industries
and economies.
In a joint statement, Asean
ministers noted the importance of increasing energy security, while reducing
the region's dependence on oil and other fossil fuels, via energy efficiency
and conservation programmes, and renewable energy sources as Asean steps up on
efforts on regional integration and connectivity.
They also highlighted the
importance for connectivity in the energy market amongst themselves, the
Asean+3 countries and the East Asian Summit (EAS) countries.
EDPMO organises Brunei's first
Energy Expo
The Energy Department delivered
the first Brunei Energy Expo (BEE 2011) from September 21-23 which was
officially launched by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei
Darussalam, featuring more than 100 exhibitors from 15 countries at the BRIDEX
Hall, Jerudong.
A wide range of energy-related
exhibits from the oil and gas sector, energy management systems, renewable and
alternative energy and energy efficient technologies were showcased to represent
what the current energy sector globally is representing now.
New residential electricity
tariffs commencing January 1, 2012
EDPMO announced the
implementation of new electricity tariffs for residential areas, which will
benefit 70 per cent of the population.
All private households will
have their post-paid electric meters changed to pre-paid, free of charge, His
Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam announced in his
titah on July 15.
Pehin Dato Hj Mohd Yasmin said
the monthly electricity spending of 70 per cent of Brunei's population under
the new power tariff schedule will be the same as, or even lower than, their
current monthly bills.
HRH Princess Fadzilah Lubabul
Bulqiah's quotes from an interview with The Brunei Times on Brunei's energy
sector last November
"It is my beloved father's
visions and aspiration to further develop Brunei Darussalam and realise the
objectives and vision of the Wawasan 2035 as a sustainable economy and growth
in a challenging world. Personally I see it as the rebirth of Brunei Darussalam
in 21st Century."
"I envision a new paradigm
for the future of Brunei Darussalam because our country has recently begun a period
of extraordinary growth. A politically stable country, rich in cultural
heritage and energy resources has begun a new era of development, with renewed
national focus on local industrial growth and significant additional
discoveries of offshore oil and gas fields."
"With the shift in the
Energy Spectrum from the west to east (Asia), Brunei now has to play an even
more important role in supporting this shift in order to ensure its economic
sustainability."
RACHEL THIEN
The Brunei Times
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