Establishment of the ASEAN Energy Manager Accreditation Scheme

The Energy Efficiency Practitioners Association of the Philippines (ENPAP), in coordination with the Department of Energy (DOE),  is  currently implementing the Energy Management Gold  Standard  –  AEMAS  Project  funded under the European Union  (EU)-Switch Asia Programme through the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE).

The AEMAS  Project is aimed  to increase efficiency, reduce energy consumption,  and consequently, reduce  carbon  dioxide (CO2)  emissions generated by  the manufacturing and industrial sector in the ASEAN and other international  regions.    It will also  enhance the professional standing of Energy Managers (CEM)  and business  competitiveness of companies globally by implementing the Energy Management System (EMS).

In the Philippines,  training and certification of  Country Experts,  Trainers,  Auditors  and  Five hundred (500) Energy Managers will be conducted nationwide . Also, representatives from five hundred (500) companies will be  trained  to implement  the EMS for the companies to initially qualify for certification.

An  AEMAS Council will be established  composed of  a network  of  government agencies  and   intermediary organizations in the  private sector like trade and professional organizations, industrial estates, export processing zones, chamber of commerce, institutions and others.  The first Council meeting was held successfully at Richmond Hotel, Ortigas Center, Pasig City last February 21, 2011.

Selection of  the first  three (3) companies which  will implement the AEMAS  Energy Management System  with certification  and   selection of  50-100 Energy Managers who will undergo training and certification,   will be conducted from March  to May 2011 in time for a high level Launching Conference slated in June 2011 to be attended by key government officials  in the energy sector , Council members , Officials  from AEMAS and ACE Regional offices,  EU – Switch Asia , and Presidents/CEO , Energy Managers of certified companies.

It is envisioned that after the project is finished, Philippine companies will continue to seek and implement AEMAS Energy Management Gold Standard with sustainability. AEMAS  Philippines is  headed by Engr. Ernesto  J.  Casis  –  Country Coordinator and Project Manager, Engr. Jose A. Hilario – Country Expert, Engr. Rolando C. Constantino – Country Expert and assisted by ENPAP Board of Directors and Officers lead by Engr. Bernard E. Pacia, President. The Steering Committee representative to AEMAS is OIC-Director Jesus C. Anunciacion of DOE.

The Kick-Off Meeting of the AEMAS Council – Thailand was held at the Novotel Fenix Ploenchit Hotel, in Bangkok, on Tuesday 25 January 2010. 12  Delegates representing 8 organizations attended the Meeting. The participants were from key institutions having the potential to significantly enhance the outreach of AEMAS in Thailand. The meeting included three sessions:

1.  Welcome address by the AEMAS Country Coordinator for Thailand (Copper Development Centre Southeast Asia – CDC-SEA), and opening speeches by the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency, Ministry of Energy of Thailand (DEDE), and the Delegation of the European Union to Thailand;
2.  Presentations by Mr. Pierre Cazelles and Mr. Jean-Marc Alexandre, from CDC-SEA on AEMAS background, AEMAS positioning, and AEMAS Council – Thailand; and
3.  Discussions among the participants: the discussion was moderated by Mr. Pierre Cazelles, from CDC-SEA. The discussion was guided by the following headlines:

o Potential synergies between AEMAS and the activities of the AEMAS Council – Thailand ‘s members
o What other organizations should be associated to the AEMAS Council – Thailand
o Suggestions on proposed activities
o Suggestions of cooperation already proposed
o Additional suggestions of cooperation

The participants have in general expressed a high level of satisfaction regarding the quality of the meeting. They have further declared strong interest and willingness to collaborate with AEMAS activities, as per the discussions held in the final session, and the replies to the questionnaire distributed to them during the meeting.

On August 26, the SWITCH-Asia Project Establishment of the ASEAN Energy Manager Accreditation Scheme (AEMAS) was launched in the Philippines. The Energy Efficiency Practitioners Association of the Philippines (ENPAP) partnered with the Philippine Department of Energy (DOE) to launch the project in Makati City, Philippines. The event attracted numerous high ranked officials including officials from the Philippines’ Energy Department, the Committee on Energy for both Houses of Congress, the Mayor of Makati City, the Energy Utilization Management Bureau-Department of Energy, the European Union Delegation, and the ASEAN Centre for Energy as well as international development organisation. AEMAS is the world’s first regional initiative on certification of energy managers and energy end-users. AEMAS covers all 10 ASEAN countries and receives strong support from the ASEAN Secretariat.

Already in July, the country chapter in Malaysia launched its part of the project. The country chapter Malaysia has already conducted 6 rounds of Energy Manager Training. The Energy Manager Training Course has been designed to provide the proven approach toward sustainable energy management. It is important for Energy Manager to understand and apply the knowledge of sustainable energy management in their daily works.

The AEMAS project also provides a system of certification based on excellence in energy management.  During the launch in Kuala Lumpur three companies were applauded in obtaining Energy Management Gold Standard Certification under AEMAS. The next planned launch of a country chapter takes place in Thailand in September.