IN PHOTO, FROM LEFT-RIGHT: HJ. OSMAN BIN HJ. TAMIN, Director, Department of Electrical Services, Prime Minister’s Office-Brunei Darussalam, DATO’ SRI CHE KHALIB MOHAMAD NOH, President/CEO, TNB-Malaysia, MR. LAM DU SON, Member of Management Board, EVN-Vietnam, MR. BAMBANG PRAPTONO, Director of Planning & Technology, PT PLN-Indonesia, MR. SIM KWONG MIAN, Managing Director, SP PowerGrid Ltd.-Singapore, MR. ARTHUR N. AGUILAR, President & CEO, TransCo-Philippines, MR. CYRIL C. DEL CALLAR, President, NPC-Philippines, MR. SOMBAT SARNTIJAREE, Governor, EGAT-Thailand, H.E. KEO ROTTANAK, Managing Director, EDC-Cambodia, DR. THEIN TUN, Director General, Department of Electric Power, MOEP No. (2)-Myanmar, MR. SISAVATH THIRAVONG, Deputy General Manager, EDL-Lao PDR, and MR. SYAIFUL B. IBRAHIM, HAPUA Secretary in Charge
 

JOINT PRESS STATEMENT OF THE HAPUA COUNCIL MEMBERS

The Heads of ASEAN Power Utilities/Authorities (HAPUA) 24^th Council Meeting was held in Cebu, Philippines on 19 June 2008. The meeting was preceded by the 8^th HAPUA Working Committee Meeting held on 16-17 June 2008.

The HAPUA 24^th Council Meeting was opened by Mr. Cyril C. Del Callar, the President & CEO of National Power Corporation (NPC, Philippines). The Opening Ceremonies were also graced officially by the Governor of Cebu, Honorable Gwendolyn Garcia.

The Meeting was attended by utilities from all ten member countries from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Representatives from the ASEAN Center for Energy (ACE) were also in attendance.

President Del Callar, as the new Chairman of the HAPUA Council, chaired the meeting assisted by the new Vice-Chairman, Mr. Sim Kwong Mian, Managing Director of SP Power Grid Singapore.

Among others, the Council deliberated the following issues faced by the ASEAN power supply industry:

The Council would like to express the concerns of the ASEAN power industry with regard to the rising fuel prices in the global market:

1. The continuing accelerated expansion of the ASEAN economies has prompted increased urgency to hasten the power system integration in the region. The HAPUA Council believes that the establishment of the ASEAN Power Grid should be at the forefront of this initiative and therefore calls for the continued commitment of the respective governments on this undertaking.
   
2. The current soaring prices of fossil fuel in the world market have posed a strong challenge on ASEAN economies. Coupled with the government constraints on the adjustment of electricity rates, power utilities face severe financial strain. This results in sizeable subsidies in the retail electricity tariff and has an adverse effect in encouraging investments in the power sector. The HAPUA Council expressed its concern on the impact of this status quo on the long-term sustainability and security of power supply. While protecting the customers’ interests, the Council appeals to the respective government authorities to consider reasonable adjustments on the tariff. The HAPUA Council stresses that the inability to sustain security of supply would be a more costly proposition in the long term.
   
3. The HAPUA Council reiterates to the governments of HAPUA Member Countries to strengthen the support for alternative and renewable sources of energy, such as geothermal, hydroelectric, biomass, windpower, solar, etc. The Council recommends to concerned ASEAN governments to promote the development of nuclear power as an energy option to meet future electricity demand in the ASEAN region.
   
4. Ensuring efficiency in the electricity industry requires cooperation from the power utilities and end-users. Complementing supply-side measures, the HAPUA Council strongly endorses the encouragement of demand-side management from electricity end-users. The HAPUA Council recommends to the governments to further accelerate all initiatives on demand-side management and energy efficiency.

The HAPUA Council agreed for the 25^th HAPUA Council meeting to be held in the Singapore will be on May/June 2008. The 24^th HAPUA Council Meeting was successfully held in the true spirit of ASEAN cooperation and solidarity.