Abstract

In Section 3, Reiji Takeishi takes a look at the “Energy situation in Asia.” He shows that Asia’s growth has resulted in a surge in energy demand, especially for power generation, particularly in the 2000s. Much of the rapid increase was caused by a rise in Chinese demand, but India and other developing Asian countries also contributed to this rise in energy consumption. Dr. Takeishi states that in the near future, approximately 80 to 90 percent of the projected increase of world energy demand will be due to Asian countries, based on forecasts such as that of the IEA International Energy Agency (IEA), such that most new facility construction for power generation, power transmission, refining, and gas transmission will occur in Asia. In this chapter, Dr. Takeishi describes energy demand in Asia and its challenges for the future.