Jakarta—While ASEAN leaders expressed support for renewable energy, they continue to prioritise coal and gas as part of the energy mix, with a focus on emission storage and carbon capture technologies (CCS/CCUS). According to the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR), in a statement on Friday, this half-hearted approach hinders the region’s progress in combating climate change and achieving global climate targets. The 42nd ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) was held on Thursday in Laos.
IESR highlighted that mitigating the rise in global temperatures requires ASEAN to expedite its transition towards renewable energy. Despite ongoing discussions on renewable sources, the emphasis on fossil fuels and clean coal technology (CCT) may lead to missed climate goals.
Fabby Tumiwa, IESR’s Executive Director, pointed out that renewable energy should be central to the region’s energy transition and urged a stronger commitment to decarbonizing the electricity sector.
“Efforts to strengthen energy connectivity in the region must be balanced with a clear commitment and set a significant renewable energy mix target to decarbonise the electricity sector,” Tumiwa said. As of 2022, renewable energy only accounted for 15.6 per cent of ASEAN’s total primary energy supply (TPES), a mere 0.2% increase from the previous year.
Despite these calls for action, coal remains a dominant part of the ASEAN energy mix. The meeting acknowledged the role of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technologies in reducing emissions from fossil fuels. However, IESR voiced concerns over this strategy, citing the high costs and untested reliability of CCS technologies, particularly in regions like Indonesia.
Arief Rosadi, IESR’s Climate and Energy Diplomacy Program Manager, stressed that CCS and CCUS technologies remain economically prohibitive. He said CCS has not proven reliable in cutting emissions, especially when processed gas has low CO2 concentrations, which drives up operational costs. He further warned that continued “investment in CCT will prolong dependence on fossil energy and increase the risk of stranded assets.”
IESR studies estimate that implementing CCS to capture 25-33 million tons of CO2 over 10-15 years would require approximately USD 3 billion. This cost is six times higher than investing in wind energy, which could achieve greater carbon reductions for less financial outlay. For comparison, Indonesia’s coal-fired power plants have a capacity of 44.6 GigaWatts in 2022, making CCS a less cost-effective option for reducing emissions.
Moreover, the IESR called attention to the limited public involvement in the AMEM process, urging for greater transparency and public participation in ASEAN’s energy policymaking. Agung Marsallindo, Coordinator of IESR’s Southeast Asia Energy Transition Project, pointed out the need for inclusivity in energy transition discussions. “Civil society engagement should be part of a just and inclusive energy transition,” he noted. (nsh)
