NEW REPORT AIMS TO PROMOTE ENERGY CONNECTIVITY AND ACCELERATE LOW-CARBON ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE LANCANG-MEKONG REGION

Sustainable Energy and Environment

New report aims to promote energy connectivity and accelerate low-carbon energy development and economic growth in the Lancang-Mekong region.

In an effort to facilitate dialogue and knowledge sharing among energy regulators, China Southern Power Grid Co., Ltd. (CSG), Mekong Institute (MI), China Energy Research Society (CERS), Lancang-Mekong Energy & Power Cooperation Research Center (EDRI/LMERC) co-hosted a report launch and discussion on “Energy Connectivity Accelerates Low-Carbon Energy Development and Economic Growth in the Lancang-Mekong Region” on November 29, 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand. With support from the People’s Government of the People’s Republic of China (P. R. China), the event sought to increase collaboration across the Lancang-Mekong (LM) region on power sector connectivity, green and low-carbon energy development, and related issues.

A total of 47 key stakeholders from LM countries convened, including government officials, particularly those working in the cross-border power connectivity or low- carbon industrial park development, development practitioners, and representatives for research institutes.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Narongchai Akrasanee, Chairman of the MI Steering Committee, provided a brief history of electricity production by explaining that in the 1970s/1980s, fossil fuel was the main source of electricity production as it was widely available at that time. Then, humans relied on coal being the cheapest source. However, at the present, more people have become concerned with the environment so clean energy was demanded, either to be produced from solar, wind, or hydro. “To address the imbalances of demand and supply of power and to assure continuous availability for areas or countries with various sources of power production, the idea of connectivity is therefore proposed. This is a solution for the optimization of power production and consumption for the Lancang-Mekong countries which have many common borders.”

Speaking during the Closing Program, Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn, MI’s Executive Director, highlighted the importance of today’s report launch and discussion which demonstrates LM countries’ commitments towards low-carbon pathway. The comprehensive study provides overview of ongoing development, challenges and proposed agenda for future cooperation. To create scalable adoption and sector-wide transition, he encouraged the sharing of best practices and experiences related to green and low/zero carbon from the energy industry. In addition to national policies and regional cooperation action plan, he stressed collaboration with the public-private partnership as another key driver.

The event was organized as part of the projects on “Promoting Greater Energy Connectivity for Equitable Development and Growth in the Lancang-Mekong Region.” and “Capability Enhancement on Low/Zero-Carbon Industrial Park Energy System in Lancang-Mekong Countries” which are being jointly implemented by CSG, MI, CERS and EDRI/LMERC. with the aim of leveraging the synergies among the various cooperation frameworks, particularly the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC), and the Global Development Initiative (GDI), which recognize the importance of power connectivity and industrial park green development.

To read or download the full report, visit: https://bit.ly/41cuiE8

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Mrs. Guohua Liu

Director, Sustainable Energy & Environment (SEE) Department

Mrs. Liu Guohua is the Director of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Department at the Mekong Institute. Prior to this role, she worked in the Department of International Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, where she played a key role in shaping and implementing China’s cooperation strategies with UN development agencies. During this time, Mrs. Liu was actively involved in advancing initiatives related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on climate change and green development. Additionally, she contributed to the evaluation of projects funded by various Chinese initiatives, such as the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund, etc.

In addition to her work in the Department of International Economic Affairs, Mrs. Liu has an extensive diplomatic background. She spent 7 years in the Department of African Affairs, followed by a 4-year tenure at the Chinese Embassy in Lao PDR, where she gained deep expertise in both Southeast Asian and African affairs. These diverse experiences have played a crucial role in shaping her approach to sustainable development and international collaboration, particularly in building regional partnerships and tackling global challenges like climate change.

She holds a Master’s degree in Economics, with a specialization in Finance, from the Central University of Finance and Economics, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, specializing in International Economics and Trade, from the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics.