Bali, 25 August 2023 – The ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF) 2023, held in conjunction with the 41st ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM-41), under the theme “Accelerating Energy Connectivity to Achieve Sustainable Growth of ASEAN,” concluded today with resounding success. The event, organised by the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) of the Republic of Indonesia, brought together Ministers on Energy of ASEAN & Timor Leste, Ministers on Energy of ASEAN Dialogue partners, energy industry leaders, experts, academias from across the ASEAN region and beyond.

Dr Nuki Agya Utama, Executive Director of ACE, highlighted the significant progress made in AEBF 2023. The triple-helix forum emphasised the importance of collaboration and partnership between representatives from industry, government, and academia to discuss energy and environmental issues.

According to Dr Nuki, ACE is working hand in hand with the MEMR for the AEBF 2023 to provide valuable insights regarding the programme areas that fall under the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) Phase II: 2021-2025 to attain a secure, sustainable, and resilient energy future. He shared, “As we know, governments, businesses, investors, and academics in ASEAN member countries agree on the importance of regional cooperation for sustainable energy security and interconnectivity to support ASEAN as a growth centre.”

On the second day, the sessions provided a platform for knowledge exchange, dialogue, and collaboration among industry leaders, government representatives, academics, and experts. Discussions revolved around energy transitions, power grid interconnectivity, cleaner energy initiatives, critical minerals, natural gas utilisation, low-carbon investments, coal’s role in the energy transition, and many more.

Another highlight is ACE has solidified its commitment to advancing energy collaboration, sustainability, and innovation across the ASEAN region by signing a series of significant Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with key regional and international partners. These MoUs were formalised during the 41st ASEAN Ministers on Energy (AMEM-41) alongside the ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF) 2023 on 25 August 2023, in the presence of ASEAN Ministers and the dialogue partners, underscoring the importance of these collaborations in shaping the region’s energy landscape.

ACE’s collaborations span a diverse range of partners, each contributing distinct expertise and resources to fortify the energy sector in ASEAN. These MoUs align with the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) Phase II: 2021-2025 and cover initiatives such as cross-border power interconnections between Indonesia and Malaysia, accelerating renewable energy integration through the ASEAN Power Grid, enhancing clean energy collaboration with China, promoting energy efficiency financing, and fostering partnerships with organisations like UNOPS, GIZ, KDB, EFC, JICA, ADB, JETRO, and academic institutions. These partnerships signify ACE’s role in advancing sustainable energy development and collaboration within the region.

As the AEBF concludes, the event also celebrated excellence in the energy sector through the prestigious ASEAN Energy Awards. The awards recognised outstanding achievements in various categories, including energy efficiency and conservation in buildings, industries, energy management, renewable energy, and clean coal technology. This recognition underscores the remarkable contributions made by individuals and organisations towards advancing sustainable energy practices within the ASEAN region.

About ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE)

Established on 1 January 1999, the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) is an intergovernmental organisation within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) structure that represents the 10 ASEAN Member States’ (AMS) interests in the energy sector. ACE supports the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC), a blueprint for better collaboration towards upgrading energy. The Centre is guided by a Governing Council composed of Senior Officials on Energy from each AMS and a representative from the ASEAN Secretariat as an ex-officio member.

The three key roles of the ACE:

• As an ASEAN energy think tank to assist the AMS by identifying and surfacing innovative solutions for ASEAN’s energy challenges on policies, legal & regulatory frameworks and technologies.
• As a catalyst to unify and strengthen ASEAN energy cooperation and integration by implementing relevant capacity building programmes and projects to assist the AMS develop their energy sector.
• As the ASEAN energy data centre and knowledge hub to provide a knowledge repository for the AMS.

Keeping the region’s improvement, sustainable and harmless to the ecosystem is a fundamental concern of the ASEAN energy sector.

Hosted by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia, ACE’s office is located in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Media contact:

• Rinda Rufaidah, Communications Officer: [email protected]