East Asia Science and Security Collaborative Network Report, Oct. 11, 2006
1. PRC Energy Supply
A group of Japanese-based researchers published a report on the energy supply and demand outlook for all 31 Chinese provinces up to 2030.
Long-term Energy Demand and Supply Outlook for Chinese provinces
Long Yongtu, China’s former chief negotiator at the WTO, dismissed the notion that the rise of China poses a threat to global energy supplies.
China poses no threat to global energy supply
China’s energy strategy is largely designed to decrease its dependence on coal, both to cut down on emissions and to reduce the number of mining accidents.
China to reduce dependence on coal
2. PRC Energy Pricing
The Chinese government announced that it will raise electricity prices to companies that use large amounts of energy.
China to raise electricity prices on high-consuming companies
3. Taiwan Energy Supply
Taiwan installed the second Japanese-built nuclear reactor at one of its power plants amid threats of lawsuits from conservationsists. APEC’s Energy Demand and Supply Outlook 2006 says that, with Taiwan’s energy demand expected to grow by 2.5 percent annually, it will need to import more coal and natural gas if it continues its opposition to nuclear energy.
Taiwan Installs New Nuclear Reactor Amid Legal Action by Conservationists
APEC Energy Supply & Demand Outlook 2006: Taiwan
4. Japanese Energy Cooperation
In a keynote speech at a conference in Seoul, Dr. Tsutomu Toichi of Japan’s Institute of Energy Economics discussed Japan’s strategy for energy cooperation in Northeast Asia.
Japan’s Strategy for NEA Energy Cooperation
5. U.S. Nuclear Fuel Cycle
Richard T. Lester writes that the Bush administration’s plans to use fuel reprocessing to increase US reliance on nuclear energy will not succeed. The only viable option is centralized internal waste storage.
6. Japanese Transport
Writing in the Japan Times, Takimitsu Sawa argues that rather than working on energy efficiency, industrialized countries with Japan will get greater emissions reduction by focusing on better transportation options, like light-rail transit.
7. Alternative Energy
A global study found that investment in renewable energy grew to record levels in 2005. The Chinese Ministry of Finance announced that it plans to increase spending on alternative energy projects over the next five years.
Renewables Global Status Report 2006
China to increase alternative energy projects
Joel Makower of Clean Edge argues that, with so many new forms of energy being developed, traditional definitions of what constitutes an energy company no longer apply.
8. Thermonuclear Fusion
China successfully tested its thermonuclear fusion reactor for the first time. The reactor ran for nearly three seconds and generated an electrical current of 200 kiloamperes.
China successfully tests thermonuclear fusion reactor
9. Ethanol Development
The U.S. Department of Energy is funding cyanobacteria sequencing, in the hopes of producing ethanol.
US Department of Energy funds cyanobacteria sequencing project
10. Nuclear Terrorism
Matthew Bunn and Anthony Weir examine how difficult it would be for a terrorist organization to build a nuclear bomb.
Terrorist Nuclear Weapon Construction: How difficult?
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