ASEAN countries want stronger power exchange

www.chinaview.cn 2005-05-10 19:32:02

HANOI, May 10 (Xinhuanet) -- Electricity officials from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathered in Laos, discussing measures to beef up regional power exchange, according to sources from the country on Tuesday.

During the 20th meeting of the forum of Heads of ASEAN Power Utilities/Authorities (HAPUA) which concluded in Vientiane on Tuesday, delegates stressed the importance of boosting power exchange and trade between and among the 10 countries via high-voltage transmission networks.

They also called for the establishment of an interconnected high-voltage grid to facilitate the purpose and reduce costs for power plant developments.

During the two-day meeting, the delegates agreed that governments of ASEAN countries should create more favorable conditions for the stronger participation of private sector in theelectricity industry in each nation as well as in the whole region,since the sector is rich in financial sources and grass-root managerial skills.

ASEAN made the first big push for developing a regional electricity grid in 1981, when it established the HAPUA to study interconnected power projects. The history of interconnection between ASEAN countries dates back to 1966 when Laos and Thailand exchanged electricity on a commercial basis, the sources said. This was followed by Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore inking bilateral agreements for power exchange in 1978.