Dr Fatih Birol, the IEA’s Executive Director, was in Singapore for the 36th ASEAN Ministers of Energy Meeting (AMEM), Singapore International Energy Week, and other related engagements.
Dr Birol gave the opening presentation of the AMEM, discussing the various energy challenges facing ASEAN – especially energy security, investment, grid integration and energy efficiency – and how these might be tackled regionally. Dr Birol also set out a plan as to how the IEA might work with ASEAN to assist the region meet its energy priorities.
ASEAN ministers released a Joint Ministerial Statement at the completion of the AMEM that calls for “stronger institutional ties with the IEA”. For the first-time, the statement also outlines specific projects to deepen collaboration between ASEAN and the IEA, designed to be delivered as part of Thailand’s 2019 ASEAN Presidency. These include projects on regional power system integration, renewables integration, energy efficiency for cooling/air conditioning, investment and digitalisation.
While in Singapore, Dr Birol also made the opening address to the annual Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW). His remarks focused on key global trends in energy markets and their implications for Southeast Asia.
On the margins of AMEM and SIEW, Dr Birol met with multiple ministers from Southeast Asia including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and the Secretary General of ASEAN to discuss our engagement with the region and with countries bilaterally.
Source: IEA
