World Energy Congress, Daegu, Korea, 16 October 2013: South Korean President Park Geun Hye told energy leaders today that international cooperation is needed to meet global energy challenges, while a “creative energy economy” should be promoted in which Korea can play a leading role.
“As the World Energy Council points out, the Energy Trilemma, the trade-offs between energy security, social equity and environmental impact mitigation, is the most significant challenge,” she said in the keynote address at the World Energy Congress in Daegu.
In response, increased global energy cooperation is needed, particularly between energy producing and consuming countries, which would contribute to global market stability. President Park said such cooperation was important for Asia, which has a mix of countries that are either heavy energy consumers or have large energy reserves.
“We have to explore new initiatives for energy cooperation in Northeast Asia,” she noted, citing the example of the construction of Russian gas pipelines to western Europe in the 1980s.
She suggested that Northeastern Asia countries could cooperate in the development and transport of shale gas from China and North America as well as exploiting oil and gas reserves in eastern Siberia.
“We have to create an environment that allows energy infrastructure connections, including regional power grids, gas pipe networks, and oil pipelines,” she continued. This cooperation could be promoted by legal frameworks, such as an Energy Charter Treaty, which would encourage investments from both the private and public sector.
In addition, the world must switch from a traditional energy economic model to a creative energy economy, which would promote energy conservation and environmental production through the use of smart grids, LEDs and low-emission vehicles. But to achieve this goal, the private sector needs to play an important financing role when governments face budget problems, said President Park.
Economies need to adopt energy policies that would deliver “clean, safe and available energy for all,” she continued. Measures should include revising energy price frameworks and regulations to promote energy efficiency, a more equitable distribution of energy resources as well as encouraging investment in clean energy technology.
“Korea will play a leading role in resolving the energy trilemma facing the world,” she added, based on her domestic policy of promoting a “creative economy.”
“We can say that the paradigm of the creative economy will significantly contribute to the energy industry,” by achieving energy efficiency based on ICT, such as Energy Storage Systems (ESS) and Energy Management Systems (EMS). This would help cut the country’s energy consumption by 1 million kilowatts of electricity and create a 3.5 trillion won industry and 15,000 new jobs.
We will develop the energy industry into a driving force of the creative economy and share with the international community our know-how and experience in the transition to the creative energy economy,” Ms. Park said.
About the World Energy Council (WEC)
Founded in 1923, the World Energy Council is the only truly global and inclusive forum for thought-leadership and tangible engagement committed to our sustainable energy future. Our network of 93 national committees represents over 3,000 member organizations including governments, industry and expert institutions. Our mission is to promote the sustainable supply and use of energy for the greatest benefit of all. The World Energy Congress is the world’s premier energy gathering.
Further details at www.worldenergy.org and @WECouncil
About the World Energy Congress
The World Energy Congress is the triennial flagship event of the World Energy Council. It has gained recognition since the first event in 1924 as the premier global forum for leaders and thinkers to debate solutions to energy issues. In addition to the discussions, the event provides an opportunity for executives to display their technologies and explore business opportunities. With the upcoming Congress in Daegu the event will have been held in 20 major cities around the world since its founding.
Further details at www.daegu2013.kr and @WECongress
