Photo 1. Group photo of the 4th AICEE participants

Vientiane, 25 September 2024 – The ASEAN International Conference on Energy and Environment (AICEE) returns for its fourth year, taking place in Vientiane, Lao PDR, on 25 September 2024. Organised by the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) and hosted by the Ministry of Energy and Mines of Lao PDR, this year’s conference, in line with Lao PDR’s 2024 ASEAN Chairmanship, seeks to foster discussions on interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral issues to advance the ASEAN Energy Blueprint.

The 4^th AICEE is held alongside the 24^th ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF-24) and the 42^nd ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM). With the theme of ‘Charting ASEAN’s Energy Future for Regional Interconnectivity and Resilience’, the conference illustrates the shared commitment to advancing energy cooperation and resilience across the ASEAN region by fostering collaborations between academics, practitioners, and key stakeholders on the path to resilient energy security and transition.

AICEE aims to achieve two key objectives. Firstly, to provide a forum for knowledge sharing among academia, policymakers, and the business sector on issues related to energy and climate change in ASEAN. Secondly, to strengthen interdisciplinary and multi-stakeholder collaboration in ASEAN to accelerate a resilient energy security and transition.

Embedded within the discussions of the AICEE is the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) Phase II: 2021-2025, the regional blueprint that serves as a guide for ASEAN’s energy transition implemented by ACE. The APAEC highlights energy transition as a key element in its theme and sub-theme, with a focus on enhancing regional energy security and promoting environmental sustainability.

Dr Zulfikar Yurnaidi, Head of Energy Modelling and Policy Planning (MPP) Department at ACE and Conference Chair of the 4^th AICEE, underscored the conference’s key role in shaping ASEAN’s energy future. He noted, “By facilitating regional interconnectivity and resilience between policymakers, scholars, and businesses, the 4^th AICEE will cultivate cross-sectoral engagement to promote the implementation of ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) Phase II: 2021-2025, and energy priorities under the Lao PDR’s Chairmanship.”

With more than 250 submitted abstracts, the 4^th AICEE will present a diverse range of topics, which are:

• Energy Transition and New Emerging Technologies: Discussing the dynamic shift towards sustainable energy sources, driven by emerging technologies, which includes the acceleration of renewable energy deployment and innovative solutions for energy efficiency.
• Interconnection: Security and Accessibility: Addressing critical aspects of accessible energy grid interconnectivity, cyber and physical security of interconnected systems, and fostering regional cooperation.
• Sustainability and Climate Change: Highlighting the urgent need for sustainability in response to climate change through emission reductions, the adoption of renewable energy and energy-efficient practices, pollution control, waste management, and green infrastructure.
• Carbon Pricing and Green Investment: Highlighting the importance of carbon pricing and green investment mechanisms to promote low-carbon technologies along with the critical role of supportive policies and regulatory frameworks.
• Energy and Digitalisation: Examining the intersection of energy and digital technologies, including IoT and blockchain, for efficient energy systems.
• Environment, Policy, and Socioeconomics: Analysing the multidimensional nature of the energy transition, such as energy, environment, economics, policy, and social sciences to address its complexities.

AICEE’s academic partners and co-host institutions greatly contribute to the success of the conference. The Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) provides crucial funding for the conference, while the National University of Laos (NUOL) serves as a prominent co-host.  Academic partners, namely the Japan-ASEAN Science, Technology and Innovation (JASTIP), Energy Research Institute (ERI) of Chulalongkorn University, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), National Energy Technology Center (ENTEC), ASEAN Climate Change and Energy Project Phase II (ACCEPT II), and Universitas Udayana, provide essential support and insights.

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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 ASEAN energy sector. 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 ACE:

• 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.
• 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.

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. For more information on ACE website: aseanenergy.org

For further information, please contact:

Aurelia Syafina, Communications Team at ACE: [email protected]