Call for Brunei, Russia to work for Asia-Pacific Energy Partnership

HYDROCARBON exporters like Brunei and Russia should work together in the setting up of an "Asia-Pacific Energy Partnership" to foster energy security around the bloc.

Deputy Director Ambassador Glob Ivashentsov at the Russian APEC Study Centre told The Brunei Times in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of an APEC press conference here that the issue of energy security is one that unites countries.

He explained that while political and military interests of different countries may differ, energy security is one that all share a common interest in.

"We in APEC should have an Asia-Pacific Energy Partnership. We have an energy security initiative, but it is not universal and it does not cover all aspects of energy security. Economically, cooperation is alright but we should go further and have universal and political security as there are still a lot of conflict situations in the Asia-Pacific," he said.

"Energy security can serve as a basis for better understanding. If you take the example Europe, the European Union (EU) started in 1950 from a European Community of steal and coal, and later developing into the EU. So, we in the Asia-Pacific may start from some agreement or treaty on 'Asia-Pacific Energy Partnership'," Ivashentsov said.

Mooting the idea, he said the partnership should cover all energy issues, norms and rules to be agreed upon by its members.

This, he said, would enable members to protect the interests of suppliers and consumers, as well as the interests of transporters because all these issues can be linked.

"Sometimes, consumers try to dictate their conditions. Suppliers or producers are then put in a more difficult situation."

"Consumers try to dominate, but the interest of three groups of parties which participate in energy supply should be protected. This is why I am convinced we should work out an Asia-Pacific Energy Partnership," he said.

Although an Energy Charter is in place, countries like the United States and China are not participants. He added it does not cover nuclear energy and maritime routes of transportation of hydrocarbons. "We should cover all these issues, norms, rules to be agreed by all of us."

Ivashentsov said both Brunei and Russia could work together in asking other hydrocarbon exporters such as Malaysia and Australia to join the partnership.

"I'm working out this energy partnership because you are exporters and we are exporters. If you take Europe, the whole of Europe are consumers. There are no other exporters except Russia. But in Asia, you are exporters, Malaysia are Vietnam are exporters, so we should work together," he said, adding exporters should unite for the partnership.

Dipetik dari - The Brunei Times