Photo 1. Dr. Asmus Rungby delivered internal seminar at the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), Jakarta. 

On 31 July 2025, the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) hosted an internal seminar delivered by Dr Asmus Rungby, Visiting Fellow at ACE for the period of June to August 2025. The session brought together ACE staff from various departments to explore how social scientific thinking can help reframe the pressing challenges and equity considerations of ASEAN’s energy transition. 

Photo 2. Beni Suryadi ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) delivered the opening speech.

The session commenced with an opening speech by Beni Suryadi, Senior Manager of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC). In his remarks, Suryadi emphasised the importance of embedding justice and inclusivity in ASEAN’s energy transition agenda. He also welcomed Dr Asmus Rungby’s interdisciplinary perspective as a valuable input to ongoing policy discussions and knowledge development at ACE. 

Dr Asmus Rungby, a Postdoctoral Fellow at Yale University, opened the seminar by critically unpacking the concepts of “just” and “inclusive” through a historical and anthropological lens. He explains that energy systems are shaped by politics, history, and society—not just by technology. He shows how major energy changes in the past, such as the shift from firewood to coal or from natural oils to electricity, were part of wider social and political changes. These transitions did not replace old energy sources, but added new ones, often creating new challenges. He warns that ASEAN should learn from past development models which led to dependence on foreign technology, resource exploitation, and unfair labour practices. He encourages asking key questions like: who benefits from energy projects, and who is left behind? 

Photo 3. Participants of the Sharing Session with Dr. Asmus Rungby at the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), Jakarta.

The presentation focuses on four important areas: improving energy access and affordability, creating jobs and education opportunities, protecting women and disadvantaged groups, and involving communities in decision-making. For example, Rungby explains that rural populations and minorities are often overlooked in energy planning, and that women may be affected differently by energy projects. He suggests using local planning meetings or community councils to give people a voice in shaping their own energy future.  

Photo 4. Dr. Asmus Rungby had interactive discussion with ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) staff.

The seminar concluded with an interactive discussion, where ACE staff shared reflections on incorporating these social dimensions into their work. Dr Rungby proposed several avenues for rethinking energy policy frameworks, including the decentralisation of corporate influence, community consultation, and the strategic development of regional technological capacities. 

The session underscored ACE’s commitment to not only advancing technical solutions but also engaging with the socio-political realities of the region’s energy transformation. As ASEAN moves towards its 2026–2030 energy cooperation goals, insights from interdisciplinary research such as Dr Rungby’s will be vital in ensuring the transition is both equitable and contextually grounded.