Ongoing research at the East-West Center provides timely analysis of a wide range of energy policy issues in the Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and other regions, with special emphasis on oil and natural gas. This analysis is of interest to businesses, government agencies, and others concerned with energy markets. The geographic focus is on major energy producers and consumers in Asia, as well as the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies.
Energy research at the East-West Center seeks to promote sustainable economic development in Asia by fostering efficient energy markets, smooth operation of the energy trade, and effective energy policies. Analysis covers long-term energy demand and supply, energy security, the environmental impacts of energy use, and the role of energy polices in economic development.
Current analysis focuses on four priority areas: energy markets, energy security across the region, energy economics in China, and energy security in APEC economies.
Energy Markets
Research on energy markets in Asia and the Pacific covers:
- The growing dependence of Asian economies on oil and natural gas from other regions, particularly the Middle East
- Expanding energy markets in China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Indonesia, with implications for the region as a whole and for the world
- Developments in the energy market and nuclear-power sector after the Fukushima crisis
- The increasing importance of natural gas as a source of energy in Asia, including natural gas development, consumption, and trade
- The emergence of unconventional gas as a source of energy in the United States and the rest of the world
- Financing and governance of energy markets, including market deregulation and privatization
Energy Security
Work in this area focuses on economic issues related to energy security in the Asia-Pacific region. Key questions addressed include:
- How to ensure an adequate and efficient supply of energy?
- How to address environmental challenges concerning energy security?
- What is an affordable cost for energy?
- What are the implications of volatile oil prices for energy security?
- How is energy linked to economic issues in Asia today?
Policy aspects of the project include:
- Policy priorities for energy-importing economies to ensure adequate supplies of energy
- Policy priorities for energy-producing and exporting economies to maintain their markets
- Policies on energy efficiency and conservation
- Environmental policies for energy security
Energy Economics in China
Research on economic and policy issues related to energy development in China focuses on key aspects of the Chinese energy economy, including the evolving structure of energy production and consumption, changing energy intensity, energy policies, developments in the oil and gas sectors, dynamics of provincial and regional energy markets, and China's impact on the Asia-Pacific region and the world as a whole.
Through active collaboration, the project seeks to influence policymakers in China and in other countries that deal with China. Research is designed to provide relevant information to government policy organizations, academia, state energy corporations, the private sector, and the public.
Strategic Framework for Energy Security in APEC
This project assesses energy security in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region in light of regional and global economic and energy security developments in recent years. The project was funded by the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) and the National Center for APEC (NCAPEC). A report was prepared and published by NCAPEC in August 2011 and distributed at the ABAC annual meeting during the APEC Summit in November 2011 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
One important aspect of the project was the development of a list of policy recommendations to governments of APEC economies to enhance energy security in the region. These recommendations have since been further refined.
Collaborating scholars
- Fereidun Fesharaki, Senior Fellow, East-West Center
- Kang Wu, Senior Fellow, East-West Center
- Tomoko Hosoe, Project Specialist, East-West Center
- Shi Dan, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS)
- Tilak Doshi, Energy Studies Institute, National University of Singapore
- Bo Kong, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
- Ken Koyama, Energy Institute of Japan
- David Pumphrey, Center for Strategic and International Studies
- Gao Shixian, China Energy Research Institute
- Ian Storey, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore
- Xu Xiaojie, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS)
Selected publications
Bramono, Ibnu, and Kang Wu. 2010. Asia-Pacific regional oil trade in the global context. International Petroleum Economics [in Chinese] 18(5): 13–17.
Fesharaki, Fereidun, and Tomoko Hosoe. 2011. The Fukushima crisis and the future of Japan's power industry. Asia Pacific Bulletin No. 106. Washington, D.C. East-West Center.
Fesharaki, Fereidun, and Kang Wu. 2010. Comments on Canada and Russia. In Fereidun Fesharaki, Nam-Yll Kim, and Yoon Hyung Kim, eds. Fossil fuels to green energy: Policy schemes in transition for the North Pacific. Seoul: Korea Energy Economics Institute, pp.169–73.
Fesharaki, Fereidun, Kang Wu, and Tomoko Hosoe. 2009. Critical issues on North Pacific energy security. In Fereidun Fesharaki, Nam-Yll Kim, and Yoon Hyung Kim, eds. Energy security in the North Pacific. Seoul: Korea Energy Economics Institute, pp.3–115.
Fesharaki, Fereidun, Kang Wu, Tomoko Hosoe, and Alexis Aik. 2010. Impact of the global economic crisis on the world energy market: Implications for North Pacific. In Fereidun Fesharaki, Nam-Yil Kim, and Yoon Hyung Kim, eds. Fossil fuels to green energy: Policy schemes in transition for the North Pacific. Seoul: Korea Energy Economics Institute, pp. 2–48.
O'Kray, Caleb, and Kang Wu. 2010. Biofuels in China: Development dynamics, policy imperatives, and future growth. IAEE Energy Forum (International Association for Energy Economics) Second Quarter: 21–24.
Wu, Kang. 2009. Comments on China's perspective on national energy security. In Fereidun Fesharaki, Nam-Yll Kim, and Yoon Hyung Kim, eds. Energy security in the North Pacific. Seoul: Korea Energy Economics Institute, pp.186–206.
Wu, Kang. 2011. Special report: Capacity, complexity, expansions characterize China's refining industry—past, present, future. Oil and Gas Journal 109(10): 78–87.
Wu, Kang, 2012, forthcoming. Energy economy in China: Policy imperatives, market dynamics, and regional developments. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing Co.
Wu, Kang, Fereidun Fesharaki, Tomoko Hosoe, Paul Chattergy, and Ptolemy Powell. 2011. Strategic framework for energy security in APEC: An update. Seattle: National Center for APEC.
Wu, Kang, Fereidun Fehsaraki, Sidney Westley, and Widhyawan Prawiraatmadja. 2011. The quest for energy security. Honolulu Star Advertiser. 20 May.
Wu, Kang, Batsaikhan Usukh, and Bulganmurun Tsevegjav. 2009. Energy cooperation in Northeast Asia: The role of Mongolia. Ritsumeikan Journal of Asia Pacific Studies 26(December): 83–98.
Wu, Kang, and Lijuan Wang. 2009. Natural gas prices in China: An update. Hydrocarbon Asia 19(4): 6–13.
Zhang, Liutong, and Kang Wu. 2011. Refining outlook in the Asia-Pacific region: Implications for regional oil market and petroleum product trade. International Petroleum Economics [in Chinese] 19(5): 27–32.
