ASEAN Must Act Now to Address its Energy Transition Challenges
At the recent World Economic Forum on ASEAN, I moderated a session on ASEAN's energy transition.
ASEAN is undergoing a phase of sustained economic growth and human development. Urbanisation and industrialisation … Continue Reading ››
The NOCs scale back
Five or ten years ago, we all knew where China’s national oil companies (NOCs) were going. The answer was ‘almost everywhere, and big’. What had started as putting a toe in the water in the early 1990s had … Continue Reading ››
China fights air pollution as winter approaches
Air pollution continues to be a major political issue in China. With the winter heating season starting, the government is pursuing a number of strategies to constrain the level of air pollution in northern … Continue Reading ››
A New Chinese Giant Energy Company: The Merger between Shenhua and Guodian
At the end of August 2017, China’s government ended months of speculation by approving the merger between two large state-owned energy companies: the Shenhua Group and the China Guodian Corporation. Shenhua is a major coal-mining company that … Continue Reading ››
Nuclear fusion – on the way or false hope?
The last two years have seen a number of projects reporting “significant” progress being made towards the goal of developing nuclear fusion energy. This form of energy replicates the processes that drive … Continue Reading ››
China’s massive investments in renewable energy
In early January 2017, China’s government announced a 2.5 trillion RMB (US$ 360 billion) investment programme in renewable energy as part of its 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020). This marks a continuation of the twin strategies of boosting the share of non-fossil fuel in … Continue Reading ››
Coal consumption in China: where is it heading?
Coal continues to be the bugbear of China's energy sector. When China’s current leadership took office in late 2012, they laid out a number of key policy priorities directly relevant to the energy sector. These included the broad goals of requiring … Continue Reading ››
The United Kingdom government’s decision in September 2016 to give final approval for Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant gives a boost not only to the future of nuclear energy in the UK, but also to China’s ambitions of becoming a major exporter of nuclear technology. China is … Continue Reading ››
China presses ahead with nuclear energy, but challenges remain
Whilst the expansion of nuclear energy capacity has largely stalled in Europe, the USA and Japan, China is one of the few countries to be adding to existing capacity and has the world’s largest fleet of new plants. Total … Continue Reading ››
China-Iran energy relations after the lifting of UN sanctions
Whilst Xi Jinping’s trip to Iran in January 2016 had great diplomatic significance, the primary objective was economic, and energy will have featured prominently among the many deals signed. This should pave the way for more inward investment … Continue Reading ››
International energy and resources policy, with a focus on China
ASEAN Must Act Now to Address its Energy Transition Challenges
At the recent World Economic Forum on ASEAN, I moderated a session on ASEAN's energy transition.
ASEAN is undergoing a phase of sustained economic growth and human development. Urbanisation and industrialisation … Continue Reading ›› 
China fights air pollution as winter approaches
Air pollution continues to be a major political issue in China. With the winter heating season starting, the government is pursuing a number of strategies to constrain the level of air pollution in northern … 
A New Chinese Giant Energy Company: The Merger between Shenhua and Guodian
At the end of August 2017, China’s government ended months of speculation by approving the merger between two large state-owned energy companies: the Shenhua Group and the China Guodian Corporation. Shenhua is a major coal-mining company that … 
Nuclear fusion – on the way or false hope?
The last two years have seen a number of projects reporting “significant” progress being made towards the goal of developing nuclear fusion energy. This form of energy replicates the processes that drive … 
China’s massive investments in renewable energy
In early January 2017, China’s government announced a 2.5 trillion RMB (US$ 360 billion) investment programme in renewable energy as part of its 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020). This marks a continuation of the twin strategies of boosting the share of non-fossil fuel in … 
Coal consumption in China: where is it heading?
Coal continues to be the bugbear of China's energy sector. When China’s current leadership took office in late 2012, they laid out a number of key policy priorities directly relevant to the energy sector. These included the broad goals of requiring … 
The United Kingdom government’s decision in September 2016 to give final approval for Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant gives a boost not only to the future of nuclear energy in the UK, but also to China’s ambitions of becoming a major exporter of nuclear technology. China is … 
China presses ahead with nuclear energy, but challenges remain
Whilst the expansion of nuclear energy capacity has largely stalled in Europe, the USA and Japan, China is one of the few countries to be adding to existing capacity and has the world’s largest fleet of new plants. Total … 