Energy sector lending for the year looks to surpass investments done in 2019 by a billion dollars with the additional three projects approved in recent days. The ADB Board approved on 3 December a loan of $150 million for the Air Quality Improvement of the Greater Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) Region. This is the 6th intervention that ADB provided for the curtailment air pollution in this region in the People’s Republic of China.

Three sovereign projects in the energy sector were approved during the past week helping increase the overall energy portfolio for the year despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

On 18 November, Toru Kubo assumed the position of Director, Energy Division at the Southeast Asia Department. Toru has been leading initiatives in energy access, clean energy, and climate change and has successfully represented SEEN in-country programming missions and other government dialogues and developed innovative projects and studies in the energy sector that are consistent with the strategic objectives of ADB.

The Board will discuss today the working paper of the proposed new Energy Policy. After conducting a series of pre-Board meetings, we hope this Board meeting will facilitate a consensus around the spirit and direction of the new Energy Policy which will guide energy sector operations in addressing the needs of ADB developing member countries (DMC) and supporting their clean energy transition in particular.

In a memorandum of understanding the ADB signed with HSBC, Temasek, and Clifford Capital Holdings, a debt financing platform has been established to boost the commercial development of sustainable infrastructure projects in Asia. It will initially start with activities in Southeast Asia.

The 15th Asia Clean Energy Forum (ACEF) kicks off today with deep-dive workshops in the afternoon. ACEF’s Week-at-a-Glance presents varied topics that are consistent with this year’s theme, Cross-sectoral Innovations for a Sustainable Future. You may have already enlisted in your preferred tracks and sessions through the ACEF Newsletter. There are also side events organized by ADB and our partners that run after the main forum.

The Asia Clean Energy Forum (ACEF) will not be daunted by the limitations presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and will be delivered through an online platform from 15 to 18 June. This year’s content will revolve around the theme, Vision 20/20: Cross-Sectoral Innovations for a Sustainable Future, and continue building on the multisectoral perspective brought to more focus in 2019.

Four thematic tracks will set the parameters of the discussions during the 15th ACEF in June:   

It was the first time that ACEF in its 15th year was held fully online. It was the first time that more than 4,600 participants get to take part in it. The 15th Asia Clean Energy Forum defied the limits presented by the coronavirus pandemic demonstrating that sustainable, resilient and clean energy future cannot be daunted; that the transition to such a future does not waste a single day; and that, learning and collaboration persist and are even more crucial in times of the most unprecedented of crises.

Know the seven principles in ensuring the quality of data used in geospatial modeling crucial for integrated energy planning. Geospatial modeling has been an integral tool in integrated energy planning particularly in determining gaps in energy access.

At the Strategy Session of the Energy Sector Group on 27 January, projects and project teams that have designed and processed innovative projects in 2020 were given recognition. Notable knowledge work and other initiatives were also given due regard.