Energy majors, including Chevron, ExxonMobil, JERA, JGC, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Santos and SK E&S, are banding together to help nations in Asia achieve lower carbon emissions by promoting natural gas. Together they have established an advocacy group called Asia Natural Gas and Energy Association (ANGEA) that will join with policymakers to find solutions to cut carbon emissions.
“The Asia Natural Gas and Energy Association (ANGEA) will advise governments as they develop energy policies and solutions, including renewables and energy conservation, to meet their national needs, achieve global climate goals as established by the Paris Agreement, and encourage investment to support social and economic changes vital for a stable, consistent and affordable transition,” the association announced today.
Supported by foundation members Chevron (NYSE:CVX) , ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM), JERA, JGC, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (NYSE:MHVYF), Santos (ASX:STO) and SK E&S, with other major global and regional companies soon to announce their involvement, ANGEA members will harness their expertise across the life cycle of the industry from energy development and production to transport, distribution and storage, added ANGEA.
ANGEA’s founding members represent liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other energy producers, energy buyers, suppliers and companies operating in the Asia Pacific region.
Working together as a centralised advocacy body, ANGEA will help ensure the long-term future of natural gas and other low carbon energy sources in the region’s energy mix, it said today.
ANGEA will be overseen by a board comprising senior representatives of founding members. Foundation members will appoint an Eminent Persons Advisory Council, a group of independent and regionally, if not globally, respected experts, who will provide high level expertise across a range of policy areas to the board and executive team.
“ANGEA represents a committed purpose by energy companies operating in the region to partner with Governments and industry to achieve a lower carbon energy future,” said ANGEA chairman and president Eurasia Pacific exploration and production at Chevron, Nigel Hearne.
“The energy industry plays a critical role in the long-term development of low-carbon energy policies and solutions while supporting economic and social needs that come with such fundamental change,” added Hearne.
“Asia Pacific will be 60% of the world’s economic growth by 2030. This will require nations to meet a significant increase in energy demand, while simultaneously switching to renewable and lower-carbon energy sources to meet energy security needs,” said Hearne.
ANGEA said it recognises that natural gas is complementary to new energy solutions, which together enable and accelerate energy transition in nations across the region. As countries increasingly move to newer and renewable forms of energy, ANGEA will examine how a combination of energy sources can support national policy objectives.
“Effective policies, investment and regulations will be vital not only to integrate these multiple energy sources effectively, but to deliver energy efficiency improvements while transforming economies to reflect new energy, economic and environmental challenges,” said Hearne.
“ANGEA was established at a critical time for policy decisions, throughout the Asia Pacific region, where private sector expertise can meaningfully contribute to public interests by helping governments achieve critical energy and environmental goals,” said the advocacy group.
ANGEA will mark its official launch during the 10th Annual LNG Producer Consumer Conference in Japan on 5 October 2021.