Coconuts, wind but no answers for soaring oil prices, demand

The strain of soaring oil prices is making Asian nations take a look at everything from wind power to coconuts to meet energy needs, but officials and analysts say there are no easy answers ahead.

..Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono floated the possibility of sharing capital to build refineries and to forge greater cooperation with oil-producing Middle East countries, delegates at the Asean gathering said.
But Dave Ernsberger, Asia oil director for energy information giant Platts, said Asean’s biggest challenge was how to deal with the destabilising effect of Indonesia’s plunge from being an oil exporter to a net importer.
“It has a destabilising effect on energy security of the region … Asean is still struggling with this,” he said.

Gulf Times