Photo 1. Group photo of ACE’s Advisory Panel members with ACE’s staff 

The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) convened its 10^th Advisory Panel (AP) Meeting on 11-12 December 2024, at the ACE Headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia. This strategic gathering brought together Senior Officials on Energy (SOE) Leaders from ASEAN Member States, who also served as ACE’s Advisory Panel (AP) members, namely Malaysia, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Indonesia, to deliberate on ACE’s 2024 achievements, operational frameworks, and forward-looking strategies. 

The first day commenced with a formal reception of delegations, followed by an office tour, introductions to ACE staff, and preliminary dialogues. The opening session featured a series of remarks from SOE Leaders representing ASEAN Member States. 

Beni Suryadi, Acting Executive Director of ACE, highlighted the importance of addressing emerging energy challenges in the region. He emphasized the urgency of strengthening collaboration among ASEAN Member States, particularly in light of the new phase of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC), which is set to launch next year. 

Following this, remarks were delivered by, Ms. Zamzurina Zulkifli, representing the SOE Leader of Malaysia and Vice Chairman of the ACE Governing Council (ACE-GC); Dr. Michael O. Sinocruz, Alternate SOE Leader of the Philippines; Mr. Wanhar, Alternate SOE Leader of Indonesia. 

Subsequent sessions provided a comprehensive review of ACE’s 2024 activities and operations, presented by each respective department. 

The second day focused on ACE’s proposed operations and budget for 2025, aligning with the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC). The meeting concluded with reflective remarks from the SOE Leaders representative, who acknowledged the productive outcomes of the discussions and expressed confidence in ACE’s capacity to advance its mission effectively. 

The 10^th Advisory Panel Meeting reinforced ACE’s commitment to fostering regional collaboration, enhancing technical capacities, and advancing sustainable energy goals. Insights and recommendations from this meeting will be formally presented to the 27^th ACE Governing Council, scheduled to convene in Langkawi, Malaysia, in early 2025.