Brunei told: Be ready for the 'renewable energy revolution'

BRUNEI needs to be ready now for the shift towards alternative energy as uncertainty looms over the future of oil and gas resources, the Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister's Office highlighted in this year's edition of an annual overview on the Sultanate.

"We need to be ready now to face the volatility and uncertainty that oil and gas bring. There are so many variables and unknowns for the future, but one of the answers going forward must surely be renewable energy," Pehin Datu Singamanteri Dato Colonel (Rtd) Seri Paduka Hj Mohd Yasmin Hj Umar was quoted as saying in the Oxford Business Group's (OBG) The Report: Brunei Darussalam 2010.

In the interview with OBG, the energy minister pointed out the finite nature of oil and natural gas, the latter of which has continued to fuel nearly all of the country's electricity demand. A study this year by national think-tank Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies (CSPS) has found that Brunei had 17 years and 30 years supply of crude oil and natural gas, respectively, based on its existing reserves.

Increasing fossil fuel consumption, more elaborate, and consequently, more costly extraction methods, and greater expectation to increase the country's role in mitigating the global threat of climate change has prompted the Sultanate to "increase our resilience against any interruption of fossil fuel supplies and the volatility of energy prices" by looking towards alternative energy.

"To ensure sustainability and a more secure energy future, Brunei Darussalam is putting the renewable energy revolution at centre stage," Pehin Dato Hj Mohd Yasmin said.

In the same regard, the energy minister called for effective energy policy and planning to complement this transition.

"This includes ensuring the financial, technical capability, infrastructure and skills are made available, and all this takes time to establish," he said. "We need to start now so as not to be left behind."

Among these preparations include the now-operational 1.2 Megawatts (MW) solar power plant in Seria and discussions to establish a "National Energy Research Centre" to support the renewable energy drive.

Thus far, solar energy has looked the most promising among the known alternative energies, given the Sultanate's exposure to equatorial sunshine, OBG reported. Although, hydro and wind-sourced power have also been identified for as potentially suitable for Brunei.

OBG said that the mountainous regions of Temburong District, particularly that along the Temburong River, had potential for hydro-power installations but had to be carefully considered to maintain the pristine nature of the much-forested district. When it came to wind power, OBG said that its potential is presently "unclear", but surveys have hinted the feasibility of offshore wind farms.

The venture into renewable energy along with work to upgrade and expand existing electricity-generating facilities are hoped to ensure the country's energy security outlook.

Citing the "latest available" statistics from the Department of Economic Planning and Development, OBG said that Brunei's installed capacity declined from 830.54 MW in 2008 to 804.2 MW in 2009.

In contrast, peak demand to 607.2 MW last year from 563.3 MW recorded in 2008.

When OBG asked whether incentives were in place to reward public or private sector agencies who conserve energy, Pehin Dato Hj Mohd Yasmin conceded that at present, there were "no direct incentives in terms of dollars and cents". Instead, the government has turned its focus towards raising public awareness on the costs and environmental consequences of energy consumption and has initiated several campaigns to educate the pubic on energy conservation and efficiency.

"We believe that as people become more aware and educated, they will eventually be willing to invest up-front to purchase energy-efficient appliances," the minister said, adding that "additional incentives" are being considered to further convince public to save energy by adopting such technology.

"Consumers who have invested in these appliances understand that while they will realise financial gains for themselves, they are also contributing to society by helping to ensure environmental protection and energy sustainability for future generations."

The Brunei Times