Group photo of the Official Launching Ceremony ASEAN School of Regulation.
7 OCTOBER 2026, MANILA - The ASEAN Energy Regulators Network (AERN), the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) and the ASEAN Secretariat, in partnership with the Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS ETP) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), today announced the launch of the ASEAN School of Regulation (ASR) at the 44th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) in Manila, Philippines. This initiative is generously supported by the Agence Francaise de Développement (AFD) and the EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package (SCOPE) Energy and marks a major step in strengthening the regulatory institutions and regional capabilities needed to translate ASEAN’s energy ambitions into implementable, investable and interconnected energy systems.
Designed as ASEAN’s dedicated platform for regulatory capability, peer learning and institutional excellence, the ASR will move beyond one-off training towards a sustained regional system for developing regulatory leaders, retaining institutional knowledge and translating shared learning into regulatory action. With an initial focus on power-system integration and multilateral electricity trade, the ASR will support delivery of the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) and other relevant programme areas under the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation 2026-2030. By strengthening regulatory clarity, consistency and implementation capability across ASEAN Member States, the School will also help create more predictable enabling conditions for long-term investment in grids, clean energy, storage, digitalisation and cross-border energy infrastructure. Reflecting its motto, “Shaping Regulation. Powering ASEAN”, the ASR will strengthen regulatory capability and collaboration across ASEAN through knowledge exchange, capacity building and shared regulatory practices, helping develop future-ready regulators and institutions for secure, sustainable and increasingly interconnected energy systems.
The formal launch session commenced with high-level opening remarks emphasizing the School’s importance for regional collaboration on energy transitions,delivered by H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN; YBhg. Dato’ Sri Haji Mad Zaidi bin Mohd Karli, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation of Malaysia; and H.E. Sharon S. Garin, Secretary of the Department of Energy of the Philippines.
“The ASEAN Power Grid requires strong regulatory frameworks and institutions that enable our power systems to work together effectively. The ASEAN School of Regulation gives us a platform to strengthen that capacity, deepen cooperation among regulators, and build greater clarity and predictability across our markets. These are important foundations for expanding cross-border electricity trade, mobilizing investment, and translating ASEAN’s energy ambitions into projects that deliver secure, reliable, and increasingly interconnected energy systems,” H.E. Sharon S. Garin said.
YBhg. Dato’ Sri Haji Mad Zaidi bin Mohd Karli, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation of Malaysia said taking the role of the host, Malaysia is committed to provide the continuity and leadership needed to develop the ASR into a sustainable regional institution.
“We will also work closely with our fellow ASEAN regulators and international partners to facilitate collaboration, knowledge sharing and capacity building. Above all, Malaysia will carry out this role in the spirit in which the school was conceived, as an institution led and owned by ASEAN, shaped by the priorities and evolving needs of our region,” he said.
From Capacity Building to Regional Delivery: Strengthening Governance for the ASEAN Power Grid
The operationalisation of the ASR is intended to turn regulatory capacity into measurable regional outcomes. Through structured, practice-oriented programmes on power systems, market design, economic regulation and multilateral power trading, the School will equip regulators with the technical, institutional and leadership capabilities required to address emerging challenges, strengthen national regulatory performance and advance implementation of the APG. The longer-term value is not training alone: it is stronger institutions, greater regulatory interoperability, faster resolution of cross-border issues and a more credible environment for regional energy investment.
The School will focus on four high-impact outcomes:
- Build and retain regulatory capability - strengthening the technical, economic and institutional expertise of ASEAN regulators to govern increasingly complex power systems and facilitate secure cross-border electricity trade.
- Advance regulatory convergence and interoperability - developing shared regulatory understanding, common approaches and practical pathways that reduce friction across jurisdictions while respecting national mandates.
- Create a regional community of regulatory leaders - expanding professional networks, leadership pathways and knowledge exchange across ASEAN, with meaningful participation by women and young professionals.
- Accelerate solutions to emerging regulatory challenges - providing targeted and rapid-response learning on priority issues such as regional power trade, renewable-energy integration, system flexibility, storage, digitalisation, tariff and market design, and other issues identified by ASEAN regulators.
UNITEN R&D to Host the ASEAN School of Regulation in Malaysia
The establishment of the ASEAN School of Regulation follows its formal endorsement by AERN in 2025 and recognition by the 43rd ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia, through the Energy Commission (Suruhanjaya Tenaga), committed to support the hosting of the School in Malaysia during the Special Senior Officials’ Meeting on Energy in January 2026. UNITEN R&D will serve as the host institution for the ASR in Malaysia, providing an institutional home from which the School can build a durable regional learning ecosystem linking regulators, policymakers, academia, development partners and industry expertise.
Building on pilot training cycles delivered throughout 2025 and 2026, the next phase will establish the ASR’s permanent secretariat and operational platform at UNITEN R&D. This transition from pilot programmes to a standing ASEAN institution creates a scalable platform for multi-year programmes, specialist faculty and practitioner exchanges, applied regulatory research and partnerships that respond directly to the evolving needs of ASEAN regulators.
High-Level Panel: Turning Regulatory Capability into ASEAN Power Grid Delivery
A distinguished panel of leaders and regulatory experts examined how the ASR can strengthen the regulatory foundations required for the energy transition and the APG. Moderated by Nadhilah Shani, Acting Head of the APG Secretariat at ACE, the discussion featured Francis Saturnino C. Juan, Chairperson and CEO of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) of the Philippines; Siti Safinah binti Salleh, Chief Executive Officer of the Energy Commission (ST) of Malaysia; Victoire Vandeville, Regional Director of Agence Française de Développement (AFD); Nicholas George, Director of the East Asia and the Pacific Multi-Country Office at UNOPS; and Hongpeng Liu, Director of the Energy Division at ESCAP.
The panel highlighted the importance of institutionalised capacity retention, practical cross-border regulatory alignment and inclusive energy governance. The discussion also underscored a broader proposition for partners: investment in regulatory capability is an investment in the enabling environment for energy infrastructure. Stronger regulatory institutions can improve policy implementation, reduce avoidable regulatory uncertainty and support the confidence required for sustained public and private capital mobilisation. Official proceedings concluded with closing remarks from H.E. Marina Rafti, Ambassador of the European Union to ASEAN, underscoring continued international support for Southeast Asia’s clean-energy transition.
A Platform for Partnership, Capability and Investment
The launch of the ASR establishes a new regional platform through which governments, regulators, development partners, financial institutions, philanthropic organisations, academia and industry can contribute to a shared ASEAN public good: capable, credible and future-ready energy regulation. Support for the ASR can help scale high-impact programmes, applied research, expert exchanges and regulatory innovation across the region. In turn, stronger regulatory capability can help ASEAN Member States convert policy ambition into bankable implementation pathways, strengthen investor confidence and advance secure, affordable and sustainable energy systems. The ASR therefore represents not only an investment in people and institutions, but an investment in the foundations of ASEAN’s future energy market.
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About the Energy Commission of Malaysia
The Energy Commission (Suruhanjaya Tenaga - ST) is a regulatory body responsible for regulating the energy sector, particularly the electricity and piped gas supply industries in Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territory of Labuan. The Energy Commission ensures that the provision of electricity and piped gas to consumers is secure, reliable, safe and reasonably priced.
More information: [email protected].
About the Energy Regulatory Commission
The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is an independent quasi-judicial and regulatory body that regulates the Philippine energy sector. It is mandated to promote competition, encourage market development, ensure customer choice, discourage/penalize abuse of market power in the restructured electricity industry, and ensure the adequate promotion of consumer interests. At present, the ERC is responsible for monitoring and regulating an industry valued at PhP 4.19 trillion, comprising 142 distribution utilities, 262 generation companies with 741 generation facilities, 160 retail suppliers, 576 WESM participants and one transmission concessionaire.
More information: erc.gov.ph
For inquiries: [email protected]
About the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE)
The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) is an intergovernmental organisation driving multilateral energy cooperation and policy coordination among ASEAN Member States. Formally established on 1 January 1999 in Jakarta, Indonesia, ACE serves as the regional energy think tank, catalyst, and knowledge hub for ASEAN. Hosted by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia, ACE’s office is located in Jakarta, Indonesia. For more information: aseanenergy.org.
More information: aseanenergy.org
For media inquiries: [email protected].
About UNOPS-ETP
The Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership (ETP) is a multi-donor partnership formed by governmental and philanthropic partners to accelerate sustainable energy transition in Southeast Asia in line with the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals. ETP mobilises and coordinates technical and financial resources to build the foundations for renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable, resilient infrastructure. ETP supports Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines in transitioning toward sustainable energy systems, strengthening economic growth, and enhancing energy security.
More information: http://www.energytransitionpartnership.org
Media inquiries: [email protected]
About ESCAP
The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is the most inclusive intergovernmental platform in the Asia-Pacific region. The Commission promotes cooperation among its 52 member States and 9 associate members in pursuit of solutions to sustainable development challenges. ESCAP is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations.
The ESCAP secretariat supports inclusive, resilient and sustainable development in the region by generating action-oriented knowledge, and by providing technical assistance and capacity-building services in support of national development objectives, regional agreements and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Media inquiries: [email protected] (Sompot Suphutthamongkhon, ESCAP Outreach Coordinator)
