Key focus to advance discussion on "Securing Our Energy Future"

1.      The Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) 2011, from 31 October to 4 November, is set to become the focal point for high-level energy dialogue in the region. Into its fourth year, SIEW is the leading platform for senior policymakers, industry leaders and academics to deliberate and exchange perspectives, strategies and solutions to major issues impacting the global energy agenda.

2.    This year, developments in the Middle East, North Africa and Japan have thrown the spotlight on energy security. In Asia, economic expansion is driving countries to find a mix of energy options that is able to sustain growth while being clean and secure.  As a small city-state with no natural resources, Singapore is acutely aware of its energy challenges.  These challenges have informed this year's theme of "Securing Our Energy Future", which emphasises the need to rethink policies to ensure a stable supply of energy for the future.

3.    "Governments will have to continue to balance the competing objectives of energy security, economic growth and environmental sustainability. Industries and businesses will have to stay alert to new challenges and opportunities in a rapidly-evolving energy landscape," said Mr Chee Hong Tat, Chief Executive of the Energy Market Authority (EMA).

4.    "The Singapore International Energy Week provides a useful platform to foster collaborative efforts in addressing these interrelated issues from an Asian perspective."

5.    The event this year will be attended by some of the world's leading energy thought leaders who will be sharing their perspectives during the week. These include Mr Nobuo Tanaka, former Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, Energy Ministers from Southeast Asia, India,  the United Arab Emirates and Europe, business leaders such as Mr Peter Voser, CEO of Royal Dutch Shell International, Mr José Gabrielli, CEO of Petrobras, Mr Shi Zhenrong, CEO and Chairman of Suntec Power Holdings, and notable academics like Dr Michael Levi from the US Council of Foreign Relations as well as Professor Martin Green from the University of New South Wales.

6.    Last year, SIEW brought together more than 14,000 policymakers, industry leaders, practitioners, think tanks and commentators from over 60 countries to discuss and share best practices and solutions within the global energy space. With more activities planned this year, EMA expects more to convene at SIEW 2011 to address the pertinent energy issues of the day.

7.  Activities include a suite of high-level strategic discussions, B2B conferences and exhibitions, and networking receptions in one week, in one location. During SIEW 2011, there will be the Singapore Energy Lecture, Singapore Energy Summit, Asia Smart Grid (new), Carbon Forum Asia, Clean Energy Expo Asia, Downstream Asia, EMART Asia (new), PV Asia Pacific Expo (new), which together, cover the full spectrum of energy verticals including oil & gas, renewable energy, energy trading and smart grids.

8.      In addition, roundtables focusing on niche topic areas within the energy space will provide a vital platform for delegates to debate key issues in smaller and more intimate discussion groups. This year's lineup includes the Singapore Electricity Roundtable, as well as thinktank roundtables discussing Technology and Rare Earth Metals for Clean Energy, Asia's Fuel of the Future: Gas or Coal? and Behaviour, Economics, and Energy: Lessons for Asia?.

9.    SIEW 2011 will also provide opportunities for high-level networking, deal-making and vital relationship building. Key networking highlights include the 6th Annual Platts Top 250 Global Energy Companies Asia Awards Dinner, SIEW Networking Receptions, and a dedicated business-matching platform called MySIEW Planner.

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About the Singapore International Energy Week

The 4th Annual SIEW 2011 is the foremost platform for top policymakers, industry players and commentators to discuss energy issues, strategies and solutions.  SIEW 2011 brings together the world's leading conferences, exhibitions, workshops and networking events in one week, in one location.  Covering key issues such as oil & gas, energy trading, clean energy and smart grids, SIEW 2011 provides the ideal focal point to discuss energy security through the generation of ideas and exchange of best practice.  More information about SIEW is available at www.siew.sg. 

About the Energy Market Authority

The Energy Market Authority (EMA) is a statutory board under the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Our main goals are to ensure a reliable and secure energy supply, promote effective competition in the energy market and develop a dynamic energy sector in Singapore. Through our work, we seek to forge a progressive energy landscape for sustained growth. Please visit our website www.ema.gov.sg for more information.

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Annex A - Overview of the Event Lineup for Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) 2011

SPEAKERS

Among the line-up of prominent speakers will be:

• Nobuo Tanaka, Former Executive Director, International Energy Agency, who will deliver the Singapore Energy Lecture;
• S. Iswaran, Minister, Prime Minister's Office & Second Minister for Home Affairs & Trade and Industry, Singapore, who will speak at the Singapore Energy Summit;
• Jose D Rene Almendras, Secretary of Energy, Philippines, who will speak at the Singapore Energy Summit;
• Pichai Naripthaphan, Minister for Energy, Thailand, who will speak at the Singapore Energy Summit
• YB Senator Dato' Sri Idris Jala, Minister in Prime Minister's Office & Chief Executive Officer, PEMANDU, Malaysia, who will speak at the Singapore Energy Summit;
• Shri Ratanjit Pratap Narain Singh, Minister of State, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, India
• Peter Voser, CEO, Royal Dutch Shell, who will speak at the Singapore Energy Summit dinner session;
• José Gabrielli, CEO, Petrobras, who will speak at the Singapore Energy Summit dinner session and Downstream Asia;
• Michael Liebreich, Chief Executive, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, who will speak at the Singapore Energy Summit;
• Professor Martin A. Green, Executive Research Director of ARC Photovoltaics Centre of Excellence, University of New South Wales, who will present at the PV Asia Pacific Conference;
• Willem Van Putten, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, KEMA, who will speak at Asia Smart Grid;
• Gil-Hong Kim Director, Sustainable Infrastructure Division, Regional and Sustainable Development Department, Asian Development Bank, who will speak at Clean Energy Expo Asia; and
• Bhawana Suphavilai, President, PTT Energy Solutions Company, who will speak at Downstream Asia.
• Shi Zhenrong, CEO and Chairman of Suntec Power Holdings

CONFERENCES

• The Singapore Energy Lecture (31 October) will be delivered by Nobuo Tanaka, former Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA). He will be sharing his views and perspectives on the rapidly changing energy landscape, as well as detail his insights into key trends, challenges and opportunities ahead for the energy community. In particular, he will examine the future of energy markets post the Fukushima disaster in Japan and its impact on global efforts to secure our energy future.

• The Singapore Energy Summit (31 October), a high-level strategic dialogue will bring together Ministers, policymakers and business leaders to discuss solutions needed for the energy sector. In a new format this year that gives attendees greater opportunity to interact with the speakers, the Singapore Energy Summit will feature a series of themed panel discussions. The three topics to be debated are Securing our Energy Future, Energy for Smart Communities and Power Trends in Southeast Asia. Moderated by industry experts, these panels will feature leading energy players sharing their viewpoints and perspectives "live".

• Asia Smart Grid (2-4 November) will bring together leading industry players across the entire electricity and utilities value chain to set the stage for international smart grid providers and suppliers to exchange and share knowledge with Asian policymakers, regulators, utilities companies and system integrators. The two-day conference will also provide insights into investment opportunities, regulatory challenges and considerations, implementation issues, as well as practical lessons through country-focused presentations, panel discussions and a facility visit to Singapore's Experimental Power Grid Centre (EPGC).

• Carbon Forum Asia (2-3 November), Asia Pacific's leading annual trade fair and conference for climate and carbon finance, emissions trading and low carbon technologies, will discuss key trends and issues that will shape the future of the carbon & energy market in Asia Pacific and beyond.

• Clean Energy Expo Asia (1-3 November) will bring together leading players from the technology, services, finance and governmental sectors, in order to address key issues in the areas of renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable mobility solutions. The three-day conference and workshop will focus on delivering key insights on commercialisation issues, policies, financing mechanisms and technologies that delegates can apply to their business and projects.

• Downstream Asia (1-2 November) is the largest refining and petrochemical event in Asia, and consists of exhibitions, conference, workshops, seminars, site visits and a China Refining Focus Day (led by ChemNet and Sinopec). The aim of Downstream Asia is to bring together all key players in the oil & gas and petrochemical refining industry to discuss important issues such as market trends, margin improvements, fuel regulations, transportation fuel, environmental concerns, latest cracking technologies, catalyst developments, and integration of petrochemical complexes. The Downstream Asia agenda is led by an Advisory Board consisting of senior executives from most NOCs in Asia as well as the major IOCs.

• EMART Asia (3-4 November) is the leading Asian summit for energy trading, featuring a two-day conference, exhibition, pre-summit seminars, an exclusive traders' party and excellent networking opportunities. The aim of EMART Asia is to enhance Singapore's position as an energy trading hub by attracting all global participants in the energy trading space who are looking to do business in this region. It will cover key issues across underlyings (power, gas, oil) such as regulation, security of supply, LNG developments (e.g. transportation, storage, trading, pricing), market/price modelling, risk management, data exchange, market transparency, cross-border trading, derivatives trading & structuring, clearing developments, and electronic trading.

• PV Asia Pacific Expo (1-4 November) will gather players from all the aspects of photovoltaic technology, including manufacturing and applications. It comprises an extensive exhibition running from the 1 to 3 November, as well as various programmes including Solar Leaders Forum, PV Asia Pacific Conference and Industrial Technology Conference with leading industry and scientific luminaries. Key PV issues that will be covered include government incentives, development trends, technical upgrading, conversion efficiency, BIPV systems, smart grid connection, financing and risks, among others.

ROUNDTABLES

• The Singapore Electricity Roundtable (1-2 November) is an international forum on electricity and energy issues. Presented by Energy Market Company, the operator of Singapore's wholesale electricity market and Asia's first liberalised electricity market, the Roundtable brings together influencers, decision-makers, potential investors and experts to discuss issues and challenges facing the electricity and energy sectors.

• The Technology and Rare Earth Metals for Clean Energy Roundtable (1 November) is organised by the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security (IAGS), and will explore the supply chain risks of rare earth elements and discuss the formulation of mitigation strategies.

• The Asia's Fuel of the Future: Gas or Coal? Roundtable (1 November) is organised by the Energy Studies Institute (ESI) and will discuss the future roles of coal and gas in Asia. The roundtable will also explore the relative costs of producing or importing gas in Asia, as well as the relative environmental and security costs of gas versus coal for Asia.

• The Behaviour, Economics, and Energy: Lessons for Asia? Roundtable (1 November), organised by ESI, will explore the role of behavioural economics in formulating energy policy. The roundtable will address whether policy prescriptions that stem from behavioural economics should be a substitute for more mainstream economic interventions in energy markets.

NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES

EMA will be organising multiple networking receptions throughout the week to provide delegates and guests opportunities to establish new relationships and strengthen existing ones.  At the sixth annual Platts Top 250 Global Energy Companies Asia Awards Dinner, there will be the chance to network with and celebrate some of the most influential Asian energy executive award winners.