How I help introduce technologies changing the Asia Pacific region
Seng Yee discusses the state of the energy industry in the Asia Pacific region, its challenges, and drivers of change.
Seng Yee Loh is the Regional VP of Sales for the Asia Pacific Region at Shell Catalysts & Technologies. He is based in Singapore. Seng Yee joined the energy industry in 1992 and joined Shell in 1996.
In this interview on 鈥�How I Make Every Molecule Matter鈥�, Seng Yee discusses the state of the energy industry in the Asia Pacific region, its challenges, and the drivers of change as it relates to the energy industry.
1. Please tell us more about your current work and how it supports the Asia Pacific region.
My main objective is to deliver financial and strategic outcomes for Shell Catalysts & Technologies and our customers. That鈥檚 the formal answer.
The impact I can have, however, is so much more important. I am fortunate to be able to introduce critical technology to this region. By doing so, I play a part in changing the reality of energy in this part of the world. The population is growing, and so are its demands and challenges. Helping the region grow and further leverage the impact Shell Catalysts & Technologies has is quite indescribable.
2. Can you give me a state of the energy industry in the Asia Pacific right now?
Like much of the world, the Asia Pacific region is in flux. In some ways, it鈥檚 slightly behind compared to Europe and the Americas. The reason is that Asia Pacific is more concerned with primary energy production. What does that mean? The region is more focused on providing the necessary energy to meet the demands of its people and industries, many of which continue to develop today.
However, the region has a robust and rapidly growing energy infrastructure. That rapid growth and investment allows the region to 鈥渓eapfrog鈥� ahead regarding its energy transition. As I鈥檝e said before, the region is growing. In many ways, Asia Pacific is on the leading edge of new technology developments. It is an exciting time.
3. Can you compare and contrast the state of energy for different countries in the Asia Pacific region?
The region is very diverse in its people and countries. To demonstrate this diversity, consider China, Japan and Australia.
As an analogy, China is like an older teenager. There is a lot of change. The country is growing and consuming a lot of energy because it has a huge appetite. Within the Chinese energy industry, there is a transition from old government-led development into dynamic private-led development. There is more risk-taking.
Contrasting China with Japan, it鈥檚 very different. Japan is like 鈥渨orking adults鈥� with responsibilities to care for and preserve the family. The country is risk-conscious because of the high costs of changing the existing infrastructure or embedded systems.
Now to Australia, which is 鈥渕illennial鈥� in nature. The country is very different because it is more westernized. Australia is more concerned with the impact of its energy decisions on its people and the world. Its economy is mineral-based. Australia is concerned with as well. Unlike China, it does not have a large segment of the population it needs to bring out of poverty. Nor is Australia like Japan in that it is not managing a declining demographic.
4. What are the drivers of change?
In every case, society is the primary driver of change for success. It鈥檚 the same in every Asia Pacific country. The differences come in the expectations of individual societies. Each society is in a different stage of development. Each has a different value system. That鈥檚 what makes it challenging.
Again, take Japan. Most people don鈥檛 want sweeping changes. The mindset is, 鈥淚 am happy with today.鈥� China is the exact opposite. They will sacrifice today for a better tomorrow.
Other countries like Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia are very young in terms of population, so their societies are full of hope and hunger to improve.
It is these societal differences that influence each country鈥檚 respective energy systems and its hydrocarbon infrastructures.
5. What challenges face the energy industry in APAC?
I can say it in one word: balance. The Asia Pacific Region has to figure out how to balance providing primary energy to raise the quality of life for people while addressing the energy transition and decarbonisation tensions. What does that mean?
The countries in Asia Pacific recognise global warming and its dangers, but how do you balance that for governments? It is also a matter of money and trying to figure out how to achieve the country鈥檚 energy objectives. Some countries are wealthy and can afford the latest and greatest solutions. In other countries, not so much. Those countries have to piecemeal and be much more critical of what they can do where the energy transition is concerned.
6. What motivates you?
I like fixing and repairing things. Doing so reduces waste and avoids throwing things away. It鈥檚 almost like plastic circularity, in a way. I like prolonging the life of things and finding new uses for them. My passion for fixing things translates to several short and long-term goals. Improving existing plants and operations to prolong and update performance translates into my work.
In the short term, I am focused on growing our Asian footprint and impact. Regarding long-term goals, I want to help shift the pace of technology innovation and application across industry. The quickening of pace is desperately needed to increase productivity and is critical to supporting the increased population of our world while maintaining the standard of life.
That is what my work allows me to do every day. Shell Catalysts & Technologies gives me a huge platform to engage with people. I can have an impact. I can introduce people to technology that changes lives because our technologies are a huge enabler of change. I get to make a difference every day and positively impact lives and the energy industry.
Shell Catalysts & Technologies is respected. We have a seat at the energy transition table. Through our solutions and technology offerings, we can enable customers鈥� journeys and open possibilities that only technology allows. That is how we make a difference.
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