Jakarta, July 31 -- Japan acknowledged that coal remains an important part of the energy mix in ASEAN countries, saying the transition to clean energy should be carried out gradually and with long-term planning.

Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN Yonetani Koji said each country has different energy conditions and needs, meaning that energy transition policies cannot be implemented at the same pace everywhere.

"In this region, coal-fired [power] still represents an important part of the energy mix, so we need a steady and long-term planned approach to that. That is our basic stance," the ambassador said during an interview with ANTARA in Jakarta on Thursday.

He said Japan's approach to the energy transition issue is once again based on the pr...