July 28, 2006	Friday	Rajab 1, 1427

VIENTIANE, July 27: Asean energy ministers gathered here on Thursday to address energy concerns as oil prices continued to rise on the back of escalating tensions in the Middle East and soaring global demand.

The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which controls 40 per cent of oil and natural gas resources in the

Asia-Pacific region, will discuss oil stockpiling, renewable power and regional energy cooperation.

Iin Arifin Takhyan, deputy president of Indonesia's state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina, said he hoped the Asean ministers would agree on regional cooperation for energy exploitation.

“Energy exploitation in Asean is very low. Only 50 per cent of indigenous oil and gas resources has been exploited,” said Takhyan, who attended an Asean business meeting here on Wednesday ahead of the one-day ministerial gathering.—AFP