Photo 1. 29th EE&C-SSN Meeting Participants   

The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) and the Energy Commission of Malaysia as the Host country, convened the 29th Energy Efficiency and Conservation Sub-Sector Network (EE&C-SSN) Meeting under the ASEAN Energy Cooperation framework. Held on Thursday, 22 May 2025, the meeting marked the conclusion of a series of events conducted from 19 to 22 May 2025 at Le Meridien Hotel in Putrajaya, Malaysia. 

Gathering representatives from nine (9) ASEAN Member States (AMS), invited Dialogue Partners (DPs) and International Organisations (IOs), the ASEAN Secretariat, and ACE, the meeting aimed to review progress since the 28th EE&C-SSN Meeting and recent high-level energy forums, report on outcomes of the 29th EE&C-SSN associated meetings, and discuss strategies for advancing the new ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2026-2030 under Programme Area No. 4: Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C). The meeting also served as a platform to exchange views with international partners, assess ongoing initiatives, and provide input for the development of APAEC Post-2025. 

Photo 2. Opening remarks from Asdirhyme bin Abdul, Secretary General of PETRA, Malaysia (left), and YBrs. Puan Siti Safinah binti Salleh, Chief Executive Officer of the Energy Commission, Malaysia (right) 

The meeting commenced with opening remarks by the Host Country, YBrs. Puan Siti Safinah binti Salleh, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Energy Commission of Malaysia. She highlighted that regional competitiveness, energy security, and economic resilience is heavily depends on energy efficiency and conservation sector, highlighting Malaysia’s progress through the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Act (EECA) 2024 and its continued national planning through 2035. 

The remark was followed by Asdirhyme bin Abdul Rasib, Undersecretary of Sustainable Energy of the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA), Malaysia, which emphasised on PETRA commitment in advancing energy efficiency as a core pillar of its energy transition, especially as Malaysia assumes the ASEAN chairmanship in 2025. He also highlighted the importance of regional cooperation via the EE&C-SSN, and called for stronger collaboration, innovation, and technology adoption to achieve shared energy goals, particularly for the APAEC Post-2025, as the energy blueprint in the next five years. 

Photo 3. Opening remarks from Rungrawee Yingyuad, Renewable Energy Expert, DEDE, Thailand (left), and Dr. Zulfikar Yurnaidi, Manager of MPP and Acting Manager of CEE Department, ACE (right).

Rungrawee Yingyuad, Renewable Energy Expert at Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE) Thailand, EE&C-SSN Coordinator, and Chair of the Meeting, also delivered the opening remarks. She expressed confidence that the meeting would produce significant results to hasten ASEAN’s energy transition, underlined the value of the EE&C-SSN as a forum for regional cooperation, and reiterated Thailand’s dedication to encouraging candid communication and cooperation. 

The opening session concluded with remarks from Dr. Zulfikar Yurnaidi, Manager of Energy Modelling and Policy Planning (MPP) and Acting Manager of the Energy Efficiency & Conservation (CEE) Department at ACE. He highlighted energy efficiency as key to ASEAN’s energy transition and called for stronger collaboration among member states and reaffirm ACE’s commitment to support and coordinate regional energy efficiency and conservation efforts. 

Photo 4. 29th EE&C-SSN Meeting Morning Session   

The session continued with Aurelia Syafina Luthfi, Junior Officer of the APAEC and Strategic Partnership Department at ACE, presenting the outcomes and follow-up actions from the 28th EE&C-SSN Meeting and other related ASEAN energy meetings. This was followed by a presentation from Mutiara Ramadhani Nur Irbah, Officer of the Energy and Minerals Division at the ASEAN Secretariat, who outlined the follow-up requirements from recent ASEAN-level meetings, with a focus on the region’s sustainability agenda and potential funding opportunities. 

Photo 5. Aurelia Syafina Luthfi, Junior Officer of APAEC and Strategic Partnership Department, ACE (left) and Mutiara Ramadhani Nur Irbah, Officer of Energy and Minerals Division, ASEAN Secretariat (right) 

Following this, Ahmad Zulhilmi, Assistant Director at the Energy Commission of Malaysia and Chair of the Board of Judges (BOJ) of ASEAN EE&C Awards 2025, presented the outcomes and recommendations from the Final BOJ Meeting for the ASEAN Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C) Awards 2025. He was followed by Dr. Zulfikar Yurnaidi, who reported on the key outcomes and recommendations of the preceding meeting, including Kick-Off Meeting ASEAN EE&C-SSN Working Group for Building, announcement of Promoting Energy Efficiency in Buildings in ASEAN (PEEB-ASEAN) Programme, and two ASEAN EE&C Workshops for industry and building. 

Photo 6. Presentation from Ahmad Zulhilmi, Energy Commission, Malaysia (left), Wisaruth Maethasith, DEDE, Thailand (centre), and Rizky Aditya Putra, ACE (right)  

The next agenda of the morning session focused on reviewing the outcome-based strategies and annual priorities for the EE&C-SSN, as well as the remaining activities under APAEC Phase II: 2021–2025. This segment was presented by Wisaruth Maethasith, Engineer, Professional Level, DEDE, Thailand, who serves as Thailand’s representative as EE&C-SSN Chair. 

The session also covered updates on the progress of EE&C projects and cross-sectoral initiatives, presented by Dr. Zulfikar Yurnaidi, and progress of ASEAN EE database and investment platform for building, as part of 2025 Malaysia’s Chairmanship deliverables under APAEC EE&C Programme Area, by Rizky Aditya Putra, Programme Manager of Asia Low Carbon Buildings Transition (ALCBT), CEE department, ACE.  

This was followed by a presentation from Dynta Trishana Munardy, Senior Officer of the APAEC and Strategic Partnership Department at ACE, who reported on the outcomes and recommendations of the APAEC Post-2025 drafting workshop and outlined potential milestones for 2026.The meeting also discussed the proposed new Energy Intensity (EI) reduction target for the APAEC Post-2025, as well as the proposed Outcome-Based Strategies (OBS) and Action Plans (AP), which will serve as the ASEAN regional blueprint for the next five years until 2030. 

Photo 7. DPs and IOs representatives and delegates 

The afternoon session was joined by DPs and IOs, including representatives from the Energy Conservation Center, Japan (ECCJ); Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI); Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ); International Energy Agency (IEA); Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll); United Nations Environment Programme – United for Efficiency (UNEP-U4E); and French Development Agency (AFD). They shared updates on the progress of ongoing cooperation activities in the region and discussed opportunities for DPs and IOs to further collaborate in advancing ASEAN’s energy goals in the energy efficiency and conservation sector. 

Photo 8. 29th EE&C-SSN meeting afternoon session with IOs and DPs   

The meeting concluded with closing remarks delivered by Rungrawee Yingyuad, Renewable Energy Expert at DEDE Thailand and EE&C-SSN Coordinator, highlighting on the significance of ongoing cooperation to promote energy efficiency in ASEAN. Moreover, she also underlined significant successes and difficulties that were discussed and urged for continued momentum towards advancing the energy goals in the region.  

Following that, Ir. Ts. Zulkiflee Bin Umar, Director of the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Department at the Energy Commission of Malaysia also delivered the closing remarks, expressing deep appreciation to all participants for their contributions to the successful 29th EE&C SSN meeting. He urged everyone to keep up the pace toward the 30th EE&C-SSN Meeting, stressing the significance of continued cooperation for ASEAN’s low-carbon future.