Asia Energy Security Summit from February 26-28

by Naalir Jamaldeen

The 4th "Asia Energy Security Summit" (AES) will be held in Taj Samudra Hotel, Colombo from February 26 to 28, according to Executive Vice President of New Energy Business Nayyara Hossain.

Hossain said that the first and second AES were held in Sri Lanka in 2011 and 2012 in Colombo with the assistance from External Affairs Ministry and Power and Energy Ministry of Sri Lanka.

Hossain described the AES as the flagship and Initiative of diplomacy. The Government and industrial leaders, Regulators, Policymakers, Academicians and think tanks across the Asia are to take part in the AES and will discuss and hold debate in relation to the issues in the energy field, particularly the emerging issues pertaining to geopolitics of energy, energy security and security of energy infrastructure.

Some of the key issues under discussion will include the impact of emergence of shale gas on the oil producers as well as consumer in Asia, Regional Availability of competitive gas, long term importers of gas turning self-sufficient or even net importers, role of renewable energy as an alternative and the demand and availability of coal for the Asian Consumers.

The Other important aspect of improving energy security of Asian region through Trans National Trade of Electricity will be discussed over a panel discussion involving the senior Government Officials as well as heads of industry and utilities from SAARC member states and adjoining countries of Central and South East Asia such as China, Myanmar, Iran, Singapore, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Thailand Malaysia etc, Hossain noted.