Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei and Australian companies could see more partnerships in the renewable energy industry if positive indications from the first Australian Clean Energy Seminar are anything to go by.

Australian High Commissioner to Brunei Mark Sawers said the good thing about Brunei is that "a lot of Bruneians are very interested in (the issue of renewable energy and carbon capture) and the government has a whole new raft of issues that it's keen about pursuing".

Sawers noted that the presence of Australian energy companies in Brunei has grown over the last few years, citing Brunei's Blocks L and M as examples of joint projects between the two countries.

Stephen Peters, director of Stratcon Australia, also remained upbeat about the possibility of bringing in greater Australian presence to facilitate Brunei's bid to become a carbon-friendly country.

"Energy is in increasing demand and Brunei has a lot to gain from simple steps like energy efficiency and landfill and sewerage methane. Our Singapore base and great experience in this area mean we can start working with Brunei straight away."

Peters used the example of revenue-generating possibilities of a current Stratcon project in Cambodia in the renewable energy industry, which he said saw a large jump in revenues once the necessary technologies were brought in.

Asked if these revenue jumps would be possible for Bruneian businesses to achieve, he said: "I definitely think there are opportunities, not just a jump in revenue but also environmental and social, too."

Tony Wood, director of the Clean Energy Program for the Clinton Climate Initiative (under the Clinton Foundation), said that in regards to issues of infrastructure or policies Brunei might need to address to trade carbon, it was more of a learning curve.

"This is a global challenge with issues in a global industry, so what's happening is that people are learning both the good things and the bad things that might have been tried elsewhere."

Wood added that the seminar yesterday hopefully would create a window of opportunity for relevant businesses or agencies in Brunei to find the right partners with the expertise needed.

"Australia has struggled with this issue politically as any other country (has). From the struggle itself, you can learn what works and what doesn't, and that, I think, is the real issue; What sort of things will create incentives for investment and what things can sometimes create the wrong investments, because sometimes things sound okay, but you don't expect the outcome and that's probably more important in some ways."

Dispelling the current idea that delving into the carbon market brings instant cashflow into a country, Stephen Peters of Stratcon remained realistic though on how much financial gain there is to be had from this industry.

"In terms of the returns for Brunei, (the) financial returns won't be terrific compared to the oil and gas returns. Oil and gas drive the economy (here) and they drive the economy everywhere. In terms of cash returns, I don't think it's going to be a big spinner for Brunei in terms of the investments, but it's an opportunity to use that and go and do other projects. I think that is (the) real opportunity for Brunei."

Peters said there was definite interest from both Stratcon's side and locally to work together.

Asked if any of the Australian companies had met with any local businesses that they were interested in working with or had spoken to regarding business relationships they would like to develop, Peters said: "There are particular companies."

Real working relationships are already developing between the two countries, with Maree Candish, Asia director of New Forests Asia Sdn Bhd, an Australian company specialising in asset management, advisory and ecological product, revealing she has been invited back to Brunei next week to discuss more possibilities. "It's not a result, but it's a beginning of a result," she said.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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