Brunei needs energy switch

BRUNEI can be as energy-efficient as Singapore, Japan or Germany if it plugs energy lost in running thousands of cars on its roads and in cooling its buildings, officials from think tank Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies (CSPS) yesterday said.

Dr Diana Cheong, senior researcher at the centre, said Brunei would have to adopt a range of measures identified through two nationwide studies on energy efficiency and conservation.

These include changes in electricity tariff reforms; fuel economy regulations; energy management; setting of appliance standards; building regulations; financial incentives for use of alternative energy; and raising energy awareness, she said.

The reforms were identified through a nationwide, eight-month study made by Japanese think tank Mitsubishi Research Institute (MRI) which was commissioned by CSPS.

Full results of the findings will be revealed on July 27 during a conference on Brunei's energy options for Wawasan 2035 the Sultanate's economic development blueprint.

Dr Cheong said that Brunei's energy intensity a measure of the energy efficiency of a nation's economy calculated as units of energy per unit of gross domestic product is high compared with other countries, but with more awareness, it will all go down.

"Converted to dollars and cents, it's a big figure. With their (MRI) policy recommendations, we will ask our stakeholders, during the forum to discuss whether or not they want to implement any of it and to look at the road ahead," she said.

As part of the study, MRI conducted an energy audit to see how much energy is used and wasted in Brunei. The energy audit included power, transport, industrial, residential and commercial users.

Japan's MRI found Brunei is most energy inefficient when it comes to transport given the number of cars in the country's roads and in cooling and lighting buildings.

According to a Ministry of Development data, Brunei's car to person ratio was at 2:1, based on 200,495 registered vehicles and an estimated population of 406,200.

Professor Dr Bert J M de Vries, an energy expert from the Netherlands, meanwhile, pointed to unnecessary use of air-conditioning and heavy fuel consumption in the Sultanate during a recent talk at an energy seminar at the Universiti Brunei Darussalam.

"To counter this, our researchers said that there is a need to promote electric vehicles and public transportation and to set EU (European Union) standards (on emission) for cars," Dr Cheong said.

For buildings, she said appliance standards were recommended, along with the promotion of higher-efficiency air conditioners, chillers and lamps in buildings.

She assured that concrete figures will be revealed on the actual conference by MRI, which will show how much Brunei can save on energy.

CSPS Executive Director Dato Paduka Dr Hj Ismail Hj Duraman, said the policies on alternative energy and EEC can be taken up by the Energy Division, Ministry of Development and the Ministry of Communications.

"People engaged and involved in the energy sector will also find relevance from our findings," he said.

The Brunei Times