Commission helps to promote renewable energy in south east Asia
The joint European Union and Association of south-east Asian nations (EU-ASEAN) energy facility project is set to receive a boost of 18 million euro, sanctioned by Europe's External relations Commissioner, Chris Patten. The project aims to help the EU energy sector to contribute to the development of the energy sector of the ASEAN countries by providing financial contributions to selected, small and strategic projects in line with the cooperation objectives of the EU and ASEAN. 'The facility is intended to assist public sector players to develop programmes which will alleviate bottlenecks in energy provision while promoting energy efficiency and the wider use of renewable energy,' says the Commission. 'As ASEAN economies recover, energy consumption is expected to resume its upward path. It is important that ASEAN countries benefit from the very considerable energy expertise which EU industry possesses.'