Photo 1. Participants of the Post-Conference Webinar on Clean Coal Transition, 18 November 2025
Jakarta, 18 November 2025 – The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) and the Japan Carbon Frontier Organization (JCOAL) have convened a virtual Post-Conference Webinar (PCW) to strengthen regional cooperation on clean coal technologies (CCT) and transition pathways that support both decarbonisation and energy security. The webinar follows the 34th Clean Coal Day International Symposium and the Energy Security with Decarbonisation Symposium 2025, held earlier this year in Japan, and brings together policymakers, industry representatives, and technical experts from across ASEAN and Japan.
Growing global pressure to reduce reliance on coal coincides with rising electricity demand in developing economies. According to the 8th ASEAN Energy Outlook (AEO8), coal remains a major component of ASEAN’s energy mix across all outlook scenarios, particularly in the power and industrial sectors. Similarly, Japan’s 7th Strategic Energy Plan affirms the continued role of thermal power in maintaining grid stability, even as the country accelerates emissions reductions through retirement of inefficient units and increased deployment of balancing resources.
The webinar opened with addresses from JCOAL President Tsukamoto Osamu, followed by ASEAN Forum on Coal (AFOC) Chair Puan Siti Safinah Salleh, and Executive Director, Dato’ Ir. Razib Dawood. The addresses emphasised coal’s continuing role in supporting economic growth and grid stability in emerging ASEAN Member States (AMS), in addition to highlighting the importance of ASEAN-Japan collaboration in advancing responsible coal use within broader energy security and emissions-reduction objectives, and noted ASEAN coal sector’s evolution under the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) towards Clean Coal Transformation (CCTR). ACE’s Head of Fossil Fuels, Hydrocarbon, and Mineral (FOM) Department, Suwanto, then delivered the scene-setting presentation, outlining coal production, utilization trends, and clean technology developments in Southeast Asia. His presentation highlighted that coal continues to play a significant role in ASEAN’s energy system, while facing the challenges towards carbon neutrality goals. The newly endorsed APAEC 2026-2030 strengthens regional alignment with carbon-neutrality goals through updated strategies that shape ASEAN’s approach to clean coal transformation and energy security. The PCW features three Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), each examining a key dimension of ASEAN’s coal transition.
FGD-1 focused on policies to balance decarbonisation and energy security. Participants agreed that while an immediate coal phase-out is not feasible for ASEAN, a phased and diversified transition is essential. Key priorities include scaling up technologies such as ammonia and biomass co-firing, hydrogen, and CCS/CCUS; expanding access to transition finance; strengthening regulatory coordination; developing roadmaps for hard-to-abate sectors; and ensuring an inclusive transition that incorporates grassroots perspectives into national and regional planning.
FGD-2 discussed the evolving roles of coal producers and users in Japan and Indonesia. While both countries face declining coal production, coal consumption is expected to rise due to renewable integration needs and the growth of energy-intensive data centres. Indonesian producers noted shifts toward other minerals and downstream industries, while Japanese users stressed balancing energy security with environmental obligations. Participants underscored the need for clear policy direction and equitable regulatory support to guide the transition and ensure smaller industry players are not left behind.
FGD-3 explored technological options to reduce emissions in the power and industrial sectors, including oxy-fuel combustion with circulating fluidized bed (OXY-CFB) technology, biomass and ammonia co-firing, and broader decarbonisation strategies for hard-to-abate industries, including the use of CCS/CCUS and low-carbon hydrogen. The discussion identifies supply chain limitations, certification requirements, cost barriers, and infrastructure needs as key challenges, underscoring the importance of supportive policy and financing frameworks to enable scale-up.
The joint wrap-up sessions highlighted the shared understanding that managing ASEAN’s coal transition needs both practical approaches and collaboration. Participants agreed that stronger cooperation between ASEAN and Japan is crucial to enhance cleaner technologies, improve supportive policies, and ensure the transition is fair for everyone involved.
Through this Post-Conference Webinar, ACE and JCOAL have established a foundation for ongoing dialogue and technical cooperation in the years ahead. The insights collected will guide future activities under the APAEC 2026-2030 cycle, helping to create a more resilient, low-carbon, and secure energy landscape for ASEAN as it navigates the challenges of the global energy transition. The presentation slides from the webinar can be downloaded here.
