Photo 1. Group photo of the ACE AP Chair, Vice Chair, Senior Official on Energy (SOE) Leaders and ACE staff during the 11th ACE AP Meeting
Jakarta, 11-12 December 2025 – The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) has convened the 11th ACE Advisory Panel (AP) Meeting from 11 to 12 December 2025 in ACE Headquarters, Jakarta. This annual strategic meeting brought together Advisory Panel represented by Senior Official on Energy (SOE) and Alternate SOE Leaders of ASEAN Member States (AMS) from Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Indonesia to explore and discuss the Centre’s achievements and progress in 2025, as well as deliberate on plans for 2026.
Photo 2. Dato’ Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood, Executive Director of ACE, and YBhg. Dato’ Sri Haji Mad Zaidi bin Mohd Karli, SOE Leader of Malaysia and Chair of the 11th ACE AP Meeting, delivering opening remarks.
On the first day of the meeting, Dato’ Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood, Executive Director of ACE, formally opened the session with his welcoming remarks, extending his deep gratitude to the AP Members for their continued guidance and support, especially in light of the recently endorsed ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2026–2030 by the ASEAN energy ministers back in October. He noted this meeting as a timely opportunity to align strategic priorities and refine ACE’s work plans for APAEC 2026–2030’s first implementing year.
YBhg. Dato’ Sri Haji Mad Zaidi bin Mohd Karli, Senior Official on Energy Leader of Malaysia and Chair of ACE-Governing Council, delivered opening remarks as Chair of the meeting. He highlighted the timely convening of the meeting following the 43rd ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) and the launch of the APAEC 2026–2030. These milestones introduce significant mandates for ACE, requiring strong coordination and clear guidance to ensure effective implementation. Therefore, he noted that the meeting provides an important platform to discuss strategies for advancing ASEAN’s energy cooperation moving forward.
Photo 3. Undersecretary Felix B. Fuentebella, SOE Leader of the Philippines and Vice Chair of the ACE AP Meeting, and H.E. Evangeline Ong Jimenez Ducrocq, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to ASEAN, delivering remarks.
Undersecretary Felix B. Fuentebella, SOE Leader of the Philippines, served as Vice Chair. He highlighted the Advisory Panel’s important role in supporting the Centre’s development as an ASEAN energy think tank. Looking ahead the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship of 2026 under the theme “Navigating our Future Together”, he reaffirmed the Philippines’ commitment to advancing regional interconnectivity as a cornerstone of ASEAN’s energy transition.
His remarks were also echoed by H.E. Ambassador Evangeline Ong Jimenez Ducrocq, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to ASEAN, who attended the meeting during the opening session. She noted that the Philippines looks forward to continuing building a regional energy structure that is resilient, sustainable, and future-ready, guided by the 2026 Chairship theme. She also welcomed the adoption of the APAEC 2026–2030, noting its strong alignment with the Philippines’ national development priorities, including expanding renewable energy and strengthening energy resilience.
Following this, remarks were also delivered by Jonathan Goh, SOE Leader of Singapore, and Ahmad Amiruddin, Alternate SOE Leader of Indonesia.
Subsequent sessions provided a comprehensive report on ACE’s 2025 activities, deliverables, and organisational operations, presented by respective heads of department, as well as strategic plans for 2026.
Photo 4. Handover of the AP Chair from Malaysia to the Philippines
On the second day, the meeting resumed with a symbolic handover of the ACE AP chairmanship from Malaysia to the Philippines, in alignment with the Philippines’ upcoming ASEAN Chairship in 2026. The ceremony was officiated by YBhg. Dato’ Sri Haji Mad Zaidi bin Mohd Karli, who formally passed the role to Undersecretary Felix B. Fuentebella, marking a smooth transition of the chairship and shared commitment to achieve ASEAN’s energy goals.
The 11th AP Meeting officially wrapped up with closing remarks from the Chair, who reflected on the outcomes of the meeting and expressed confidence in ACE’s continued progress. With the inputs and recommendations received from the panel members, the Centre will continue to enhance its programmes and strengthen its institutional capacity as an ASEAN energy catalyst, think tank, and knowledge hub to enhance ASEAN’s regional energy cooperation.
The results from this meeting will be formally presented to the 28th ACE Governing Council, scheduled to convene in the Philippines in early 2026.
