In 2008, Asia and the Pacific was by far
the major energy producer among the
world’s regions accounting for 46% of
global production, but as a consumer it
ranked as the second most frugal, after
Africa, in terms of per capita energy
supply, at just 74% of the world average.
Energy consumption
Total primary energy supply (TPES) reflects
annual supply of commercial primary energy, and
is at the national level calculated as the sum of
energy production, net imports and net stock
changes minus energy used for international
shipping and aviation. TPES varies with the level
of economic development, the structure of the
economy, the choices and opportunities available
for energy production, trade and transformation,
the efficiency of energy use, and patterns of
consumption.
In 2008, Asia and the Pacific accounted for 44%
of the total global primary energy supply (TPES)
or 5,449 million tons of oil equivalent (mtoe) of
the world supply of 12,267 mtoe. The North
American share was 21% (at 2,550 mtoe),
followed by Europe at 16% (2,014 mtoe), Latin
America at about 6.3% (749 mtoe) and Africa
at 5.5% (655 mtoe).
Figure II.9 – Share of total primary energy
supply in the world, by region, 2008
The picture is radically different if energy supply
per capita is considered; in 2008, per capita
energy supply in the Asia-Pacific region was
1,345 koe, only 74% of the world average, at
1,824 koe. Only Africa among world regions had
a lower average, at 736 koe, which was 40% of
the world average. In contrast, supply per
capacity was 3,407 koe in Europe, at 187% of
the world average; and North America held the
lead at 7,539 koe per capita, or 413% of the
global average.
Between 2000 and 2008, the world average
annual growth rate of per capita energy supply
was 1.4%. All regions, except North America
(-0.8%) experienced positive growth. Asia and
the Pacific led in growth with the rate of 3.4%.
However, among individual Asian and Pacific
countries, the average annual growth rate of per
capita energy supply varied widely. Countries
whose rate grew the most include Armenia
(5.1%), the Islamic Republic of Iran (5.5%),
Kazakhstan (6.7%) and China (8.0%). During
the same period, the growth rates were negative
in a number of countries, with the sharpest
declines experienced in Singapore (-2.1%) and
the Philippines (-1.9%).
Figure II.10 – Per capita energy supply, world
regions, 2000 and 2008
Electricity production
Between 2000 and 2008, the world produced
3.4% more electricity per year on average; in Asia
and the Pacific, production increased by an
average of 6.1% per year, resulting in an increase in the Asia-Pacific share of gross electricity
production from 34% to 42%.
Figure II.11 – Gross electricity production,
world regions and Asia-Pacific subregions, 2000
and 2008
Within Asia and the Pacific, the East and North-
East Asia subregion produced 5,051 billion kWh
or almost 60% of the region-wide total in 2008.
China and Japan together generated 4,539 billion
kWh, about 90% of the subregional total and
about 53% of all electricity produced in the
region.
In South-East Asia, Indonesia and Thailand led
with combined electricity production of 297
billion kWh or 51% of the subregional total
produced. In South and South-West Asia, India
and the Islamic Republic of Iran produced 76%
of the subregional total of 1,382 billion kWh. In
North and Central Asia, the Russian Federation
produced more than 83% of the entire
subregional total of 1,251 billion kWh. Australia
generated about 86% of all electricity produced
in the Pacific subregion.
Electricity consumption
Asia and the Pacific, along with Africa, lead the
world in growth of per capita consumption of
household electricity. From 2000 to 2008, the
annual average growth in per capita consumption of household electricity in the world was 2.0%.
Asia and the Pacific experienced double that rate
of growth at 4.0%, second only to Africa at
4.1%. The growth was particularly evident in
least developed countries (LDCs) at 6.5% and in
lower-middle income countries at 8.4%. On the
other hand, the average per capita consumption
of household electricity in the North and Central
Asian subregion declined between 2000 and
2008.
Figure II.12 – Consumption of household
electricity per capita, Asian and Pacific income
groups, 2000-2008
Figure II.13 – Consumption of household
electricity per capita, Asian and Pacific country
groupings, 2000-2008
The industrial sector in Asia and the Pacific as a
whole consumes the greatest share of region-wide
total final energy consumption (TFC), at 36%.
The residential sector follows at 27%; and
transport consuming the least at 17%. During
2000-2008, the proportion of energy consumed
by the industry has increased continuously,
reflecting a pattern of increasing commercial
activity in the region, especially in such countries
as China and India, which have become major
industrial production bases for the world.
Energy intensity
Energy intensity is the amount of energy
consumed to produce one unit of GDP (TPES
per unit of GDP). Between 2000 and 2008,
energy intensity declined in all the world’s
regions, translating into gains in energy efficiency.
Against a world decline in average annual energy
intensity of 1.2%, Asia and the Pacific declined
by 1.5%, exhibiting higher efficiency gains than
the world average.
Within Asia and the Pacific, North and Central
Asia was the most energy-intensive subregion
during the period from 2000 to 2008. At the
same time, however, it led in improving energy
intensity at an average annual rate of 5.0%, with many Central Asian countries improving at even
higher annual rates with Azerbaijan in the lead
at 13%. Nonetheless, the economies of the
subregion still exhibit high TPES per unit of
GDP with an average energy intensity rate at
342, more than 50% above the regional average
at 221.
Figure II.14 – Energy intensity index, TPES per
unit of GDP (2005 PPP$), Asian and Pacific
subregions, 2000-2008
Reducing the pain while improving the gain:
Making energy consumption more efficient for a sustainable model of evelopment
Economic development has been closely associated with increasing consumption of energy. A sustainable model of
development must, however, decouple those two processes. Economic development is not sustainable if it raises the
level of energy consumption beyond a certain level. Through improved energy efficiency and increased use of
alternative energy sources economic development can occur without the economic and environmental costs associated
with high energy consumption.
Two critical indicators of energy efficiency – energy intensity and per capita energy consumption – are important
starting points in the decoupling process. The Asia-Pacific region consumes energy at relatively high levels per unit
of GDP in comparison with other regions, such as North America and Europe. Nonetheless, Asia and the Pacific is
leading the way in reducing energy intensity. At the same time, the Asia-Pacific per capita energy consumption is
the second lowest, after Africa. Per capita energy consumption is increasing, however. This trend, which reflects the
conventional paradigm of economic development in tandem with rising energy consumption, can be managed with
innovative solutions, as illustrated in the case of China Government with its promotions for sustainable energy
development.
In Asia and the Pacific, the ratio of energy imported to energy exported is close to 1, indicating self-sufficiency for
the region. However, the uneven distribution of primary energy resources indicates a potential to enhance trade in
energy and electricity to support energy security through regional cooperation. |
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Energy supply and use
