Experts calls for stronger Eurasian energy ties

Northeastern and Central Asian countries should beef up cooperation in the energy sector and accelerate the development of energy-saving technologies, to ensure energy security, experts said on Monday.

"In the Eurasian region, opportunities for energy cooperation abound as the region has both big energy producing and consuming countries," said Wu Guihui, an engineer at the National Energy Administration.

Wu made the remarks during an experts' group meeting on energy efficiency in Northeast and Central Asia, part of the China-Eurasia Expo being held in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

Wu said strengthening energy cooperation, promoting energy efficiency and reducing emissions are crucial for countries in the region, as energy security is a common global concern.

"Most of China, Japan and South Korea's energy consumption is based on imports, while Central Asian countries have rich reserves of energy resources. The complimentary nature means bright prospect for cooperation," said Liu Hongpeng, chief of the Energy Security and Water Resources Section of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

"In addition, the three countries have rich experience in energy conservation and emission reduction, which can be shared with other countries," Li Tienan, head of the Center for Industrial Energy Efficiency.

According to the International Energy Agency, 65 percent of China's oil consumption will come from imports by 2015.

As the world's second-largest oil importer, China's imports of crude oil may reach 370 million tons in 2015, said the National Development and Reform Commission.

Shen Zhongyuan, a senior coordinator with the Institute of Energy Economics, said Japan cut its energy consumption by 18 percent last year due to energy-efficient technology.

Li agreed, saying that Japan leads the world in energy efficiency, thanks to its advanced energy-saving technologies. "So multilateral cooperation within the region should be promoted," Li said.

China has also made progress on energy saving.

To accelerate the transformation of China's economic growth model and strengthen the country's energy saving, the State Council issued the 12th Five-Year Plan for Energy Saving and Environmental Protection (2011-15), in which the country will reduce energy consumption per unit of GDP by 16 per cent from 2010 levels at the end of 2015.

Liu from UNESCAP said that it's very important for these countries to improve their communication regarding energy saving. One of the ways to promote energy saving is when governments promote social awareness of energy conservation and emission reduction.

Industrial energy efficiency should be a priority for countries in the region, experts said.

baochang@chinadaily.com.cn