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THE ENERGY SECTOR
He affirmed that the Ministry of Energy will
continue its efforts towards reducing energy
intensity and to increase the total share of
renewable energy in Brunei’s power generation.
The minister also reiterated the importance of
gas as an accessible and affordable source of
cleaner energy in the region. This is underlined
by its prominence in the ASEAN Plan of Action
on Energy Cooperation for sustainable energy
development in ASEAN.
Innovation and technology together with
affordability, he explained, “will play a key
role in realising a low-carbon energy future.
Hydrogen, Carbon Capture, Utilisation and
Storage (CCUS) and energy storage technologies
were highlighted as upcoming key technologies
that have been forecast by the International
Energy Agency (IEA) that can further accelerate
the reduction of global greenhouse gas output”.
He added, “The Ministry of Energy will closely
monitor its development to support the
national climate agenda and global efforts for
decarbonisation.”
Responding to climate change
The country’s first climate change policy was
launched by the Brunei Darussalam National
Council on Climate Change on July 25, 2020.
Dubbed the Brunei Darussalam National Climate
Change Policy (BNCCP), the policy aims to pave
the way towards low carbon and climate-
resilience for a sustainable nation. In recognising
the nation’s foundations and constructing a
successful Zikir Nation, the BNCCP is driven by
the five Maqasid (objectives) of the Syariah.
The core strategic areas are guided by the
principles of achieving Brunei Vision 2035 and
promoting economic security, sustainability
and prosperity through a low carbon approach
in protecting the environment to ensure
environmental sustainability. The policy focusses
on 10 core strategic areas with objectives that are
to be implemented in the next 15 years, with 2035
as the general target year.
The 10 strategic areas include industrial
emissions, forest cover, electric vehicles,
renewable energy, power management,
carbon pricing, waste management, climate
resilience and adaptation, carbon inventory,
and awareness and education. Under the key
strategy for industrial emissions, the country
will reduce its overall emissions in the industrial
sector through zero routine flaring and to ensure
it is as low as reasonably practical.
Meanwhile for forest cover, the strategy is to
increase carbon sink through afforestation and
reforestation with a target of planting 500,000
new trees.
Under electric vehicles, Brunei is looking to
increase the total share of electric vehicles to 60
per cent of total annual vehicles sales while for
renewable energy, an increase in the total share
of renewable energy to at least 30 per cent of
total capacity in the power generation mix.
In power management, Brunei is looking to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least
10 per cent through better management of
electricity consumption.