Photo 1. H.E. Evangeline T. Ong Jimenez-Ducrocq, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Philippines to ASEAN, delivering remarks during the seated dinner reception session.
Jakarta, 4 February 2026 – The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), in collaboration with the Department of Energy of the Philippines and the Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Philippines to ASEAN, co-hosted the ASEAN Energy Reception 2026 to strengthen regional energy cooperation at Wisma Habibie & Ainun in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 4 February 2026.
The Reception convened more than a hundred participants, including the Permanent Representative of the Philippines to ASEAN, the Ambassador of the Philippines to Indonesia, Undersecretary of Energy of the Philippines, the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN, the Executive Director of the ASEAN Centre for Energy, Permanent Representatives of the ASEAN Member States to ASEAN, Ambassadors of the ASEAN Dialogue, Sectoral Dialogue, and Development Partners to ASEAN, and other high-level key energy stakeholders of the region.
H.E. Evangeline T. Ong Jimenez-Ducrocq, Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Philippines to ASEAN, underscored that energy cooperation sits at the heart of ASEAN’s future integration. “As ASEAN begins the first year of implementing the APAEC 2026–2030 under the Philippines’ Chairship, our focus is on strengthening energy security, accelerating a just and inclusive energy transition, and deepening regional interconnectivity. The ASEAN Energy Reception provides a timely platform to align priorities, mobilise partnerships, and translate our shared ambitions into concrete and impactful outcomes that will benefit ASEAN’s peoples and economies.”
Felix William B. Fuentebella, Undersecretary of the Department of Energy of the Philippines and Senior Official on Energy (SOE) Leader of the Republic of the Philippines, stated, “The ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation 2026–2030 aligns closely with ASEAN’s broader priorities in trade and investment, digital transformation, MSME development, and sustainable growth. The region’s energy agenda therefore cannot be pursued in isolation. We look forward to deeper coordination with our counterparts in digital finance, transport, environment, minerals, and science and technology, among other sectors. ASEAN’s energy transition must be pursued as a true whole-of-region effort. We invite our Dialogue and Development Partners to work with ASEAN not only as advisors, but as co-creators of solutions and long-term collaborators in advancing a secure, resilient, and sustainable regional energy future.”
H.E. Satvinder Singh, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN, highlighted, “The year 2026 marks the start of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation, APAEC 2026–2030 and coincides with the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairmanship. Under this new phase, ASEAN is pursuing a balanced agenda, strengthening energy security, advancing decarbonisation, and ensuring that the energy transition remains just and inclusive. Across all these areas, ASEAN values partnerships that are aligned, practical, and responsive to the needs of ASEAN Member States.”
Dato’ Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood, Executive Director of ACE, stated, “The year 2026 will be a pivotal year for the Centre as we have been entrusted to be the Secretariat of ASEAN Power Grid (APG) and the new ASEAN Framework Agreement on Petroleum Security or the new APSA, on top of delivering the APAEC 2026-2030 and the priorities under the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship 2026. We are committed not only to coordinating but also to delivering studies, advancing cooperation, and facilitating sustainable growth for the region.”
H.E. Helen Fazey, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to ASEAN, and H.E. Mariann Ruud Hagen, Ambassador of Norway to ASEAN, also provided congratulatory remarks for the event.
Photo 2. (Left to right) Felix William B. Fuenteballa, Undersecretary of the Department of Energy of the Philippines and Senior Official on Energy (SOE) Leader of the Republic of the Philippines, and Dato’ Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood, Executive Director of the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE).
The Reception was opened with a briefing by the ASEAN Centre for Energy on the key insights towards the ASEAN energy landscape in 2026. The briefing also launched the “ASEAN Energy in 2026”, an ACE annual publication on key regional energy development. The briefing and report are part of ACE’s central role as the regional energy think tank for the ASEAN Member States.
The briefing was followed by an introduction to the energy priorities of ASEAN under the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship 2026 and the new regional energy cooperation blueprint, the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2026-2030. Under the theme of “Navigating Our Future, Together”, the Philippines presented its Priority Economic Deliverables (PEDs) on Energy for 2026, including:
1. operationalisation of the Enhanced APG MOU,
2. publication of the 9th ASEAN Energy Outlook (AEO9),
3. launch of Sustainable ASEAN Energy Management Certification Scheme (SAEMAS),
4. study of the Nuclear Power Plant Financing and Human Resources Development,
5. study of the Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage Business Model Assessment
6. study of the Upstream Oil and Gas Sector Fiscal Benchmarking
7. study on Battery Energy Storage Systems and Advanced Technologies for renewables
8. study on Cross-border Renewable Energy Certificates Market and Financing
The ASEAN Energy Reception 2026 was co-hosted by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Philippines to ASEAN, Department of Energy of the Philippines and, ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), supported by the UK Mission to ASEAN through the ASEAN-UK Green Transition Fund (GTF) and the Government of Norway through the ASEAN Climate Change and Energy Project (ACCEPT).
Read the ASEAN Energy in 2026 report here.
