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ACCEPT II to Present a Proposed Study on Lao Net Zero during RE-SSN (Renewable Energy Sub Sector Network) in Lao PDR.

Vientiane, 5 May 2023

ASEAN Climate Change and Energy Project Phase II (ACCEPT II) teams have presented ACCEPT’s proposed study on Lao Net Zero Ministry of Energy and Mines of Lao PDR and during RE SSN on 5 May 2023 in Vientiane, Lao PDR.  

  • On 5 May morning, ACCEPT’s Senior Researcher, Muhammad Shidiq and Energy Modeling and Policy Planning (MPP)’s Senior Researcher, Dr Ambiyah Abdullah have visited Lao’s Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) to introduce and present the work planning of Lao Net Zero study to Houmpheng Theuambonmy, Deputy Director General of Department of Energy Efficiency and Promotion, and his team.  
  • During the afternoon session, ACCEPT’s Senior Researcher and Researcher, Muhammad Shidiq and Dewa Raditya Margenta presented the work planning of Lao Net Zero study to the representatives of 10 AMS, Dialogue Partners (DPs) and International Organizations (IOs)(IOs) during RE SSN. 

One of ACCEPT II work plan is to conduct a national energy system modeling for low carbon economy towards net zero. The idea of the study is to model and analyze one of the 10 ASEAN Member States using energy supply-demand modeling approaches to understand the net zero roadmap of a country. The study will be started by Lao PDR as the first country in ASEAN where it is expected that the other countries’ net zero modeling will be analyzed in the future under ACCEPT II.  

As an initial introduction, Senior Researcher of ACCEPT, Muhammad Shidiq, and Senior Researcher of MPP Department, Dr Ambiyah Abdullah, who are the ACE’s modeling experts have met and discussed with representatives from the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) of Lao PDR. The meeting aimed to introduce and explain the work planning and activities ACCEPT will have in the near future on the Lao Net Zero study. Houmpheng Theuambonmy, Deputy Director General of Department of Energy Efficiency and Promotion, warmly welcomed the representatives and noted the study planning. He noted the study will be greatly beneficial for Lao since the country is considering to be a net zero by 2050 as written in its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). It is expected that the study will give early information on how the energy sector plays a role in achieving Lao Net Zero by 2050 and what input or recommendation for Lao to achieve the Net Zero target. The study is expected to be accomplished in one year and plan to be published and launched during the Lao PDR ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024.  

Figure 1. Muhammad Shidiq is presenting the Lao Net Zero study to the representatives of AMS, DPs and IOs. 

During the discussion, the Deputy Director General mentioned that residential is the most consumed energy in Lao. In addition, Lao government has strong interest in transportation sector by pushing a lot of electric vehicle (EV) penetration and implementation soon. Meanwhile, industry is not a main sector in Lao since Lao is not an industrial country. However, he noted that it will be very interesting for the three sectors (residential, transportation, and industry) to be modeled and analyzed during the study to get a comprehensive overview of the Lao net zero in the future.  

Figure 2. Muhammad Shidiq (third from left) and Dewa Raditya Margenta (first from right) during the meeting of RE SSN in Lao PDR. 

The study on Lao Net Zero has also been presented during the RE SSN meeting in the afternoon session on 5 May 2023. ACCEPT II senior officer and technical officer attended the meeting and presented work planning of the study. The ACCEPT representative presented that the national modeling would give a deep-dive analysis on the energy supply and demand modeling by considering a net zero scenario. The modeling work on the national level is started by Lao PDR and is expected to continue with other ASEAN countries in the future. Lao PDR has been considered as the first country it is because the country has huge potential for hydropower and would like to understand in detail how the hydro potential could be maximized to achieve net zero. In addition, the country will be the next ASEAN Chairmanship where the study will be published during the Lao chairmanship. At the end of the presentation, the Member States noted the study planning and will look forward to the study’s progress and accomplishment in the future. In addition, the member states would like also to see the replication and sharing sessions of the study with other ASEAN countries.   

As next actions, the ACCEPT II is currently working on technical side of the study including preparing the detail methodology and starting to build model construction of Lao. The data and information collection as a part of input data for modeling will follow. Soon, ACCEPT II team will continuously work together and communicate with MEM to accomplish the study by mid of 2024 where the workshops as part of the study for data collection and validation will be conducted in between.  

Detailed information on ACCEPT II can be found at https://accept.aseanenergy.org/ 

ACCEPT II welcomes any collaboration, please feel free to contact us at [email protected] 

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