(Hanoi, Vietnam – 20 November 2020) The ASEAN Energy Awards is Southeast Asia’s highest recognition for excellence in the three (3) areas of the ASEAN energy cooperation. The awards are given in major areas, namely (i) Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C) in buildings, green buildings, and energy management, (ii) Renewable Energy Projects, and (iii) Excellence in Energy Management by Individuals. This year the awards are given to 93 awardees that have shown works in technology promotion and development towards clean energy transition, resilience, and sustainability.

Excellency Mr. Dang Hoang An, Vice Minister of Industry and Trade Vietnam, stated in his speech, “Twenty years after the launch of The First ASEAN Energy Awards (AEA) during the 18^thASEAN Ministers of Energy Meeting (AMEM) held in Hanoi, Vietnam on 2 July 2000, Vietnam is once again on the spotlight hosting and celebrating the two decades of success of the ASEAN Energy Awards.”

Furthermore, Excellency Mr. Dang Hoang An, Vice Minister of Industry and Trade Vietnam, congratulated all the awardees this year and thanked all the awards presenters and the ASEAN Centre for Energy for the excellent arrangement made for the ASEAN Energy Awards this year. He also encouraged the ASEAN Member States to continue the ASEAN Energy Awards for many years to come.

This year, as a new area of ASEAN Energy Awards, ASEAN conducted the first ASEAN Energy Youth Awards (AEYA).  The AEYA is organised by the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) with support from Southeast Asia Minister of Education Organization (SEAMEO) and the Korea Energy Agency (KEA), with the objective is to recognise the students’ valuable contribution to nation-building, sustainable development, and energy transition in the ASEAN region.

Dr. Nuki Agya Utama, the Executive Director of ACE stated, “We are proud of the enthusiasm of the ASEAN Youths to contribute and participate in this competition, while at the same time promoting the importance of energy efficiency and renewable energy despite the current pandemic situation. We believe that the ideas, innovation and potential given by the young generation will bring promising future energy security for ASEAN”.

The role of youth to overcome the environment and climate change issues are very important. Hence, the theme of the competition, “Advancing Sustainable Development and Energy Transition through Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in the ASEAN Region”, is expected can be a momentum to undertake real actions.

Dr. Ethel Agnes Pascua-Valenzuela, Director Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Secretariat (SEAMEO Secretariat) explained,“The ASEAN Energy Youth Award is timely organised to promote creativity and actions of youth. Most importantly, the Award has given students a greater understanding of the implications of their behaviour to their country and the region and thus enabled them to transfer the new-found knowledge and more environmentally-friendly activities to their personal lives. The SEAMEO Secretariat would like to congratulate the winners of this Award.”

From Korea Energy Agency (KEA)’s Director, Mr. Jung Hoon Yang, said, “Congratulations on the successful hosting of the 1st ASEAN Energy Youth Award. The works expressed with various ideas and contents of the young generation of ASEAN contained messages on the importance of improving energy efficiency and revitalizing renewable energy, and through this award, we could see the hope that energy transition in the ASEAN region will be achieved through their passion,”he said.

In addition, Mr Yang sincerely congratulated and encouraged all the winners and expressed his hope that this award will further develop the partnership between the KEA and the ACE.

The Awards divided into three categories: Video, Poster/Infographic, and Essay Writing. ACE has received almost 200 applicants within two (2) months from the entire ASEAN Member States (AMS). And due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year AEYA’s winner has been announced at the ASEAN Energy Business Forum virtually.

See the full list of winners in each category for ASEAN Energy Awards and ASEAN Energy Youth Awards 2020.