The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) participated in the 41^st Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME) and its Associated Meetings held on 19-23 June 2023 at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia.  

The five-day meetings, led by Mr Jisman Hutajulu, the Senior Official on Energy (SOE) Leader of Indonesia as SOME Chair, brought together Senior Officials from ASEAN Member States, Dialogue Partners, and International Organisations to discuss energy issues, collaboration frameworks, and strategies for sustainable energy development in the region.  

The Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of Republic of Indonesia, H.E. Arifin Tasrif welcomed the delegates and highlighted the importance of regional cooperation to promote sustainable energy security and interconnectivity as backbone of ASEAN as epicentrum of growth.  

Led by Dr Nuki Agya Utama, the Executive Director of ACE, ACE actively provided valuable insights to guide the region in the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) Phase II: 2021-2025, towards achieving a secure, sustainable, resilient energy future. Dr Nuki emphasised the significance of interconnection as pathways towards a secure and sustainable energy transition, highlighting ACE’s leading role in the development of the ASEAN Interconnection Masterplan Study III (AIMS III), which identified 18 potential cross-border electricity interconnections. He also took the opportunity to share the development plan of the 8^th ASEAN Energy Outlook (AEO8), ASEAN’s flagship publication which provides analysis and trends in shaping the region’s future energy landscape.  

The 41^st SOME discussed the progress of APAEC Phase II implementation, which included plans to renew the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) and Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline (TAGP) Memorandum of Understanding, as well as the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA). Direction was provided for the APAEC Phase II Mid-Term Review, aiming to develop the new cycle of APAEC and the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Sustainability Agenda, including the development of the ASEAN Strategy for Carbon Neutrality. The meeting also welcomed Timor-Leste, which joined as an observer, further enhancing the regional cooperation in energy matters. 

The 41^st SOME also marked the establishment of 1^st Dialogue between SOME-European Union (SOME-EU) and SOME-Asian Development Bank (SOME-ADB). Dialogue with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the International Energy Agency (IEA), Japan, U.S, Russia, Plus Three (China Japan Korea), and East Asia Summit countries were also held, focused on policies and approaches to advance regional cooperation in balancing the energy transition, energy security, and economic development.  

A significant achievement was the signing ceremony between ACE and USAID Smart Power Program (SPP). The collaboration between ACE and USAID SPP underscores a joint commitment towards advancing the objectives and targets outlined in APAEC Phase II: 2021-2025.  

ACE’s active participation in the 41^st Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME) highlighted the Centre’s unwavering commitment to serve the ASEAN Member States in advancing regional energy cooperation.