Development Asia—Lighting the Future: September 2010

By Asian Development Bank

If one question could threaten Asia's dynamic growth and impressive gains in poverty reduction in recent decades, it is the region's energy supply. The complex issues that encompass energy security are vital for ensuring a region's economic growth. It is not just a matter of maintaining the supply of energy that Asia needs to fuel its growth. The region must also navigate the treacherous waters of conflict and cooperation when it comes to accessing energy resources. On top of these challenges lie the energy implications of climate change: many now believe that the cheapest, most abundant fuels—such as coal—can no longer be the primary sources of energy for the region. Asia must take the lead in supplying and consuming cleaner, renewable energy. According to the International Energy Agency, the emerging economies in the region, led by the People's Republic of China and India, are driving world energy demand, demonstrating a growing appetite both for fossil fuels and renewable sources of energy. Yet, more than 800 million people in Asia and the Pacific still have no access to electricity. Against this backdrop, this issue of Development Asia takes a broad look at energy security in Asia. The prospects and challenges associated with coal, renewable energy, oil and gas, and the sensitive area of nuclear energy development are explored in detail. The gargantuan infrastructure challenges associated with the region's aging power transmission grid—a vital aspect of regional cooperation in energy—is examined by new contributor John Otis, an author and Time magazine correspondent. This edition also examines the plight of millions of people in Asia who never obtained birth certificates. A simple process in many countries, it can be a crippling problem for those whose births are never registered. They are often invisible to government, reports regular contributor Karen Emmons. Unprotected by labor laws and left out of many social safety net programs, they are among Asia's most vulnerable people.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Asian Development Bank
• Release date: Sep 1, 2010
• ISBN: 9789292574321

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WWW.DEVELOPMENT.ASIA

© 2010Asian Development Bank

ISSN 1998-7528

ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK

Publisher Ann Quon

Editorial and Creative Director

Carolyn Dedolph Cabrera

Managing Editor Eric Healy

Senior Editor Floyd Whaley

Editorial Advisor Anil Terway

Associate Editor Maria Liza Solano

Copy Editor Caroline Ahmad

Art Director Andy Martin

Development Asia features development issues important to Asia and the Pacific. It is published four times a year by the Asian Development Bank and Haymarket Media Ltd. The views expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and do not reflect the views and policies of the Asian Development Bank and Haymarket Media Ltd. Use of the term country does not imply any judgment by the authors or the Asian Development Bankand Haymarket Media Ltd. as to the legal or other status of any territorial entity.

Advertising of any specific commercial product, process, service bytrade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, in this publication does not constitute or imply ADB’s endorsement, recommendation, or favoring of any of the product or the entity thereof.

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Development Asia

Department of External Relations

Asian Development Bank

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1550 Metro Manila, Philippines

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Cover photo: Singapore skyline at night

Picture credit: Image Source

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A publication of the Asian Development Bank,

designed and distributed by Haymarket Media Limited

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

Asia’s Energy Challenge

If one question could threaten Asia’s dynamic growth and impressive gains in poverty reduction in recent decades, it is the region’s energy supply. The complex issues that encompass energy security are vital for ensuring a region’s economic growth.

It is not just a matter of maintaining the supply of energy that Asia needs to fuel its growth. The region must also navigate the treacherous waters of conflict and cooperation when it comes to accessing energy resources. On top of these challenges lie the energy implications of climate change: many now believe that the cheapest, most abundant fuels — such as coal — can no longer be the primary sources of energy for the region. Asia must take the lead in supplying and consuming cleaner, renewable energy.

According to the International Energy Agency, the emerging economies in the region, led by the People’s Republic of China and India, are driving world energy demand, demonstrating a growing appetite both for fossil fuels and renewable sources of energy. Yet, more than 800 million people in Asia and the Pacific still have no access to electricity.

Against this backdrop, this issue of Development Asia takes a broad look at energy security in Asia. The prospects and challenges associated with coal, renewable energy, oil and gas, and the sensitive area of nuclear energy development are explored in detail. The gargantuan infrastructure challenges associated with the region’s aging power transmission grid — a vital aspect of regional cooperation in energy — is examined by new contributor John Otis, an author and Time magazine correspondent.

This edition also examines the plight of millions of people in Asia who never obtained birth certificates. A simple process in many countries, it can be a crippling problem for those whose births are never registered. They are often invisible to government, reports regular contributor Karen Emmons. Unprotected by labor laws and left out of many social safety net programs, they are among Asia’s most vulnerable people.

Development Asia is growing quickly. In each edition, its editorial coverage expands with its readership and reach. Coming editions will see more exciting and interesting changes. A vital ingredient in the magazine’s development is you. We need your thoughts and input to develop this publication. And we value your opinions about the articles you read in its pages. Talk to us at [e-mail].

We’re listening.

Ann Quon

Publisher

CONTENTS

YEAR III, NUMBER VIII, JULY-SEPTEMBER2010

16 GETTING GREEN POWER ON THE GRID

FOCUS

ENERGY SECURITY

52 REGISTERING ALL ASIA’S BABIES

ARTICLES

60 CANING POVERTY WITH BAMBOO

DEPARTMENTS

Letter to the Editor

Income Security First

The focus on food security of the recent issue of Development Asia is a timely reminder on the urgent need to refocus development efforts on agriculture and fisheries.

The key to food security is to make farming and fishing profitable. With income security, food security will follow. Making this happen will require the combined and sustained efforts of both the private and public sectors.

Primary emphasis has to be placed on increasing farm productivity in order to reduce production unit costs and thus increase margins. Better margins on increased production output will normally translate to higher incomes.

Technologies and resources needed to increase farm productivity are known. It is a question of making them accessible and available. In addition, there are still vast tracks of land suitable to farming which are not put to good use due to lack of market incentives and infrastructure support.

We certainly cannot ignore the needs of people who are undernourished or go hungry. The time to help them out of their distressed state is NOW!

Senen C. Bacani

Agriculture Secretary (1990-1992),

Republic of the Philippines

Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines Awardee 2006

Contributors

Mark Blackwell has more than 20 years of experience covering issues ranging from science and economics to politics and cross-border issues in Latin America for news organizations, including the Hearst Corporation and Capital Cities/ABC. He specializes in information graphics.

William Branigin served as Southeast Asia bureau chief of The Washington Post for 10 years, reporting from more than a dozen countries in the region. He was based in Bangkok from 1981 to 1986 and in Manila from 1990 to 1995.

Joe Cochrane is a former Southeast Asia correspondent for Newsweek magazine and bureau chief for Deutsche Presse-Agentur in Cambodia, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

Karen Emmons is a Bangkok-based journalist who writes on public health and social issues. She recently visited remote areas in the northern Philippines to follow a door-to-door vaccination campaign aimed at eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus.

Noel de Guzman is a Hong Kong-based art director, who runs his own graphic design studio. He has worked with various international publishing and advertising