Charting ASEAN's Energy Future for Regional Interconnectivity and Resilience under Lao PDR Chairmanship

Highlights

• Initiated in 2021, the ASEAN International Conference on Energy and Environment (AICEE) provides a platform discussion for policymakers, researcher, and private industry to exchange ideas and incorporate insights into regional energy policy planning. In conjunction with the ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) and ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF), the conference is held annually, and this year marks the 4 edition with the theme of “Charting ASEAN’s Energy Future for
  Regional Interconnectivity and Resilience”. The theme was selected based on the Lao PDR’s Chairmanship theme and APAEC 2021-2025.
• The conference provided valuable insights for policymakers, focusing on six (6) prioritised topics: 1) Energy Transition and New Emerging Technologies, 2) Interconnection: Energy Security and Accessibility, 3) Sustainability, Engineering, and Infrastructure, 4) Carbon Pricing and Green Investment, 5) Energy and Digitalisation, 6) Environment, Policy, and Socioeconomics.
• The insights are synthesised into seven (7) strategic recommendations for the APAEC 2026-2030: 1) Address high initial costs and promote investment for emerging technologies, 2) Harmonise technical standards and regulatory frameworks to facilitate power interconnection, 3) Promote energy efficiency in transportation and industrial sectors (garment and textile) for sustainable infrastructure, 4) Strengthen financial mechanisms in support of carbon neutrality, including carbon markets, green bonds, and taxonomies, 5) Foster the adoption of digital technologies in energy systems, including AI and Machine Learning, 6) Integrate just and inclusive to address the multifaceted dimensions of the energy transition, 7) Support Research and Development (R&D) and data-driven solutions for long-term energy planning by fostering knowledge sharing and collaboration.