Asean energy officials convene in Kuching for policy talks
KUCHING: Senior energy officials from Asean will discuss energy policies in a three-day regional meeting starting here on Monday (June 16).
The 43rd Asean Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME) is hosted by the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry in conjunction with Malaysia's Asean chairmanship this year.
The ministry's secretary-general Datuk Mad Zaidi Mohd Karli said "Powering Asean: Bridging Boundaries, Building Prosperity" was the theme for the energy sector meetings, emphasising the need for dynamism in driving the region's development.
"It also underscores the ultimate goal of Asean integration, which is to improve the lives of its citizens by promoting economic growth, creating jobs and focusing on inclusivity and sustainability that will benefit all segments of society," he said in his opening remarks.
All 10 Asean member states, along with Timor Leste as an observer, are participating in SOME and its associated meetings.
Besides energy officials, the delegates include representatives from the Asean Secretariat, Asean Centre for Energy and dialogue partners comprising China, South Korea, Japan, Russia and the United States.
Additionally, representatives from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), International Energy Agency (IEA), Economic Research Institute for Asean and East Asia (ERIA), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank are present.
SOME and its associated meetings aim to align Asean energy policies at the senior official level by reviewing progress on the Asean Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (Apaec) and preparing key decisions for the 43rd Asean Ministers on Energy Meeting (Amem), which is scheduled to be held in October.
Priority areas for SOME discussion this year include the Asean Power Grid (APG), status of initiatives towards achieving the Apaec targets and energy transition financing.
SOME will discuss and deliver consensus-based outcomes, including an updated Apaec work plan, policy recommendations on regional energy security, renewable energy financing and grid integration. Key outcomes include advancing the APG enhanced memorandum of understanding, finalising the draft Apaec policy document and securing endorsement of the Asean Petroleum Security Agreement (Apsa).
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