Represented by Dr Nuki Agya Utama and Dr Zulfikar Yurnaidi, the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) attended the 1^st Asia Zero Emission Community Senior Officials’ Meeting (ASOM1) held in Jakarta, Indonesia. The meeting was inaugurated with remarks from H.E. Arifin Tasrif, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Ryo Minami, Japan’s ASOM Member and Chair, and Mr Tetsuya Watanabe, Special Advisor to ERIA’s President and the next President of ERIA. 

With a shared goal of addressing emissions reduction and achieving net zero targets in the region, ASOM1 was attended by all ASOM members: Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam (virtual). 

Invited to provide special remarks, ACE highlighted the Centre’s unwavering dedication to sustainable energy and emission reduction. Dr Nuki Agya Utama, Executive Director of ACE, expressed heartfelt appreciation for Japan’s support and the opportunity to foster collaboration on such a momentous platform. He stated, “ASOM1 is important to strengthen collaboration between ASEAN and Japan to work together on reducing emission to achieve our net zero emission target. Japan’s support on technology, finance and human resources and several key projects supported by Japan will become a critical role for achieving net zero emissions target not only in ASEAN but also in Asia.” 

This meeting also presented three Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) studies, including 1) Master Plan of Hydrogen and Ammonia, 2) Common understanding and Technology standards for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), and 3) Further promotion of Joint Credit Mechanism (JCM) which will be fundamental and valuable information for ASEAN to boost its effort on reducing emissions and achieve the net zero target by 2050.   

In alignment with the 41^st ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting on Energy (SOME), ASOM1 deliberations were centred on strengthening collaboration with Dialogue Partners (DPs) and International Organisations (IOs). ACE acknowledged the challenges posed by ASEAN’s approximate 5% contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions. Nevertheless, ACE remains resolute in surmounting these obstacles through continued collaboration and the implementation of effective solutions, including: 

• The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (METI) on support to 8^th ASEAN Energy Outlook (AEO8), ALERT on decarbonisation technology roadmap, AEMS Digitalisation Energy Conservation Center, Japan (ECCJ), small scale biorefinery (JETRO), Clean Energy Future Initiative for ASEAN (CEFIA) 
• ACE–USAID Smart Power Program (SPP) signing on Grant Under Contract 
• USTDA on feasibility study for interconnection Sumatra–peninsular Malaysia, Kalimantan–Sabah 
• Norwegian–ASEAN Regional Integration Programme (NARIP) on ASEAN Climate Change and Energy Project phase 2 (ACCEPT II) 
• Asian Development Bank (ADB) on the potential of power market pilot, especially in GMS, to be integrated under ASEAN Power Grid (APG) 
• Upcoming collaboration with Australia through AUS4ASEAN Future programme and various DPs and IOs 

ACE also took the opportunity to extend an invitation to the upcoming back-to-back events of the 41^st ASEAN Minister on Energy Meeting (AMEM), the ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF) 2023, the 3^rd ASEAN International Conference on Energy and Environment (AICEE) as well as the Green Transport Rally (GTR) and the ASEAN Leaders Golf Tournament. These events will serve as catalyst platforms for diverse stakeholders, including financial institutions, private sectors, academia, and policymakers, to collaborate towards an energy transition in ASEAN, which aligns with ACE’s mission.