The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) was invited to attend the ASEAN Council on Petroleum (ASCOPE) 8^th Mid-Year Task Force Meeting 2024, in Bali, Indonesia, on 27 – 30 May 2024 under the theme of “Enhancing Energy Connectivity and Resilience”. The event was attended by leaders of ASEAN oil and gas companies from the nine ASEAN Member States (AMS), namely, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

Extensive Discussion to Fortify Oil and Gas in the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) Post 2025

A key topic of discussion at the meeting was to discuss the plans for the oil and gas programme area in the upcoming ASEAN energy blueprint document, the APAEC Post 2025 (2026 – 2030). Previously, under the APAEC Phase II: 2021 – 2025, ASCOPE is the mandated body to implement the Programme Area on Trans – ASEAN Gas Pipeline (TAGP). However, as highlighted by Dr Nuki Agya Utama, Executive Director of ACE, during the CEO Leadership Forum, while the infrastructure connectivity and accessibility achievements under the current TAGP Programme Area are commendable, the Programme Area does not pave the way for other oil and gas related (or cross-sectoral) activities.

In this regard, Dr Nuki proposed a new framework for the new Programme Area that encapsulates “Oil and Gas Security and Sustainability” to further enhance energy security measures and sustainable practices within the oil and gas sector that still meet regional energy demands responsibly. He further highlighted, “Collaboration with ASCOPE is crucial to ensure a cohesive approach to regional energy challenges.”

The suggestion by ACE to develop a Programme Area that goes beyond TAGP infrastructure was welcomed with positive regard by the ASCOPE Council.

Nicke Widyawati, CEO of PT. Pertamina (Persero), as the host country and incoming ASCOPE Secretariat underscored, “Pertamina proposes that the programme area for the upcoming APAEC 2026 – 2030 must be expanded that [reflects the inclusion of] the safety, affordability, and sustainability of oil and gas.” She went on to highlight that action plans must cover perspectives from upstream to downstream – from mapping the regional oil and gas resources, pipeline supply-demand balancing, and deployment of low-carbon technologies in the upstream sector.

The ASCOPE Secretary in Charge (ASIC), currently held by Dr. Tran Hong Nam from Petro Viet Nam, emphasised that to move forward and address energy trilemma challenges, strong collaboration with various stakeholders and ASCOPE as the hub of ASEAN oil and gas industry will play an important role. This view was also shared by government representative, Mirza Mahendra, Director of Oil and Gas Program Development, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia, who conveyed that collaboration between countries and companies in ASEAN is very important to increase energy security and acceleration of transition energy.

Showcase of ACE-led Activities on Oil and Gas

During the 3 Day-long meetings, Suwanto, Senior Research Analyst of ACE, also had the privilege to present and consult on the ongoing and planned oil and gas projects, conducted by ACE to the four Task Forces of ASCOPE: Exploration and Production, Gas Advocacy, Policy Research and Capacity Building, and Clean Energy.

This includes cooperation on natural gas masterplan, methane emissions abatement in oil and gas sector, ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), and decarbonisation technologies (CCUS/CCS, hydrogen). Specifically on hydrogen, Nadhilah Shani, Senior Research Analyst of ACE, actively engaged with the Clean Energy Task Force to discuss on the on-going development of the ASEAN Low Carbon Energy Technologies Roadmap (ALERT), a study conducted by ACE in collaboration with ERIA to map out the development of emerging low-carbon technologies (ELT) and the potential role it could play as a long-term strategy for the decarbonisation of the ASEAN Energy Sector.

ACE Explores Potential Cooperation with Pertamina, Petronas, Gentari, and Malaysia Gas Association

To catalyse greater collaboration, ACE led by Dr Nuki, partakes in bilateral meetings with Pertamina, Petronas, Gentari, and the Malaysia Gas Association. Throughout the meetings, insights on the ASEAN energy and oil and gas landscape were exchanged- such as the continuing role of oil and gas in the energy transition era, the investments needed to deploy decarbonisation technologies, and the publications and studies conducted by ACE. More importantly, the meetings explored potential cooperations that could be fostered, with the assistance of ACE.

In the bilateral meeting with Pertamina, Dr Nuki had the opportunity to meet with Henricus Herwin, Senior Vice President Strategy & Investment of Pertamina as the incoming ASCOPE Secretary in Charge, to express ACE support in the coming change of ASCOPE Chairmanship from Petro Vietnam to Pertamina in September 2024. Discussions were also made on the way forward of the Trans – ASEAN Gas Pipeline (TAGP), particularly on the collaboration opportunity to develop a new TAGP Masterplan, CCS/CCUS, and biofuel.