Photo 1. Dato’ Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood, Executive Director of ACE, opening the ASEAN Energy Reception 2026 held in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Jakarta, 4 February 2025 – The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), in collaboration with the Department of Energy of the Philippines and the Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Philippines to ASEAN, co-hosted and organised the ASEAN Energy Reception 2026 in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 4 February 2026. This high-level convening brought together 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
The year 2026 marks a critical year for ASEAN’s regional energy cooperation. The new regional energy blueprint, the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2026-2030, was endorsed at the 43rd ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting in October 2025 and is now officially in its first implementing year. ASEAN also welcomed the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship 2026 under the theme of “Navigating our Future, Together” and its Priority Economic Delivarables (PEDs) and Annual Priorities.
The ASEAN Energy Reception 2026 served as an ASEAN-led platform to introduce these new regional strategy and priorities and the landscape of the ASEAN energy cooperation.
Photo 2. Dr Zulfikar Yurnaidi, Manager of the Energy Modelling and Policy Planning (MPP) Department of ACE, presenting the insights and the regional energy landscape from the “ASEAN Energy in 2026” report.
The afternoon session was kicked off with a launch and presentation of the “ASEAN Energy in 2026,” an ACE annual publication on key regional energy development. The presentation was delivered by Dr Zulfikar Yurnaidi, Manager of the Energy Modelling and Policy Planning (MPP) Department of ACE. The presentation provided an overview of the insight presented in the report, outlining what is to be expected in the energy sector in 2026 in terms of advancing the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) and renewables, balancing energy security and transition, and cross-sectoral efficiency and inclusivity.
The full ASEAN Energy in 2026 report can be accessed here.
Photo 3. Beni Suryadi, Senior Manager of APAEC and Startegic Partnership Department of ACE, introducing the APAEC 2026-2030 and Priority Economic Deliverables (PEDs) of the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship 2026.
Beni Suryadi, Senior Manager of APAEC and Startegic Partnership Department of ACE, continued the session by providing an introduction to the the APAEC 2026-2030 and Priority Economic Deliverables (PEDs) under the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship 2026.
After the briefing session, participants were given the opportunity to visit the ASEAN Energy Cooperation Gallery to explore the seven Programme Areas under the APAEC 2026-2030 and other regional energy initiatives and activities by ACE.
Photo 4. The APAEC Networking Session featured an ASEAN Energy Cooperation Gallery showcasing the seven Programme Areas of the APAEC 2026-2030 and other regional energy initiatives.
The reception continued with the seated dinner reception. In attendance were high-level representatives including the Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Philippines to ASEAN, H.E. Evangeline T. Ong Jimenez-Ducrocq; the Ambassador of the Republic of the Philippines to the Republic of Indonesia, H.E. Christopher B. Monterro; the Undersecretary of the Department of Energy and Senior Official on Energy (SOE) Leader of the Republic of the Philippines, Felix William B. Fuentebella; Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Satvinder Singh; the Ambassador of the UK to ASEAN, H.E. Helen Fazey; the Ambassador of Norway to ASEAN, H.E. Mariann Ruud Hagen; and the Executive Director of ACE, Dato’ Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood.
Photo 5. Dato’ Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood, Executive Director of ACE, delivered opening remarks.
To formally open the reception, Dato’ Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood, Executive Director of ACE, delivered opening remarks. He highlighted the Centre’s role in implementing the APAEC 2026-2030, PEDs, and Annual Priorities on Energy under the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship. He noted that the Centre is commitment to not only coordinating but also delivering studies, advancing energy cooperation, and facilitating sustainable growth for the region. He encouraged and invited all partners and stakeholders of the energy community to work alongside ACE to advance ASEAN’s energy goals and cooperation.
Photo 6. H.E. Satvinder Sing, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN, delivering remarks.
H.E. Satvinder Singh, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN, delivered remarks, emphasising 2026 as the APAEC 2026-2030’s first implementing year which coincides with the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship. He highlighted that in this new phase, ASEAN is advancing a balanced agenda that strengthens energy security and advances decarbonisation and ensuring that energy transition remains just and inclusive. Across these areas, he underscored that ASEAN values partnerships that are aligned, practical, and responsive to the needs of the ASEAN Member States.
Photo 7. Felix William B. Fuentebella, Undersecretary of the Department of Energy of the Philippines and SOE Leader of the Republic of the Philippines, delivering remarks.
Felix William B, Fuentebella, Undersecretary of the Department of Energy of the Philippines and SOE Leader of the Republic of the Philippines noted the APAEC 2026-2030’s close alignment with ASEAN’s broader priorities in trade and investment, digital transformation, MSME development, and sustainable growth. He noted the need for deeper coordination with counterparts across sectors such as digital finance, transport, environment, minerals, and science and technology, underscoring that ASEAN’s energy transition must be pursued as a whole-of-region effort. He also encouraged the ASEAN Dialogue, Sectoral Dialogue, and Development Partners to engage with ASEAN not only as advisors, but as long-term collaborators and co-creators of solutions to advance a secure, resilient, and sustainable regional energy future.
Photo 8. H.E. Evangeline T. Ong Jimenez-Ducrocq, Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Philippines to ASEAN.
H.E. Evangeline T. Ong Jimenez-Ducrocq, Permanent Representative of the Republic of the Philippines to ASEAN, delivered remarks and highlighted the Philippines’ energy cooperation under its 2026 ASEAN Chairship, which is guided by three interlinked anchors: peace and security, prosperity corridors, and people empowerment. She underscored energy security as a foundation for regional stability, emphasising that reliable, resilient, and diversified energy systems are essential to safeguard ASEAN against external shocks and to support sustainable economic growth. She concluded by underscoring that ASEAN’s energy journey is about empowering people and ensuring energy remains reliable, affordable, sustainable, and accessible.
Photo 9. H.E. Helen Fazey, Ambassador of the UK to ASEAN, delivering congratulatory remarks.
H.E. Helen Fazey, Ambassador of the United Kingdom to ASEAN, congratulated the Centre for hosting the reception. She highlighted the UK’s cooperation on energy with ASEAN underpins many shared ambitions, noting that green transition is an opportunity that can supercharge trade and investment in the region. For the UK, she added, 2026 also marks the fifth anniversary of its Dialogue Partnership with ASEAN. Looking ahead, she looks forward to seeing the ASEAN-UK Green Transition Fund (GTF) progress, with targeted assistance to help unlock investment for green projects across the region. She reaffirmed that the UK stands ready to share it experience in supporting this green transition.
Photo 10. H.E. Mariann Ruud Hagen, Ambassador of Norway to ASEAN, delivering congratulatory remarks.
H.E. Mariann Ruud Hagen, Ambassador of Norway to ASEAN, congratulated ACE and ASEAN for the endorsement of the APAEC 2026-2030, noting its strong linkage between energy efficiency and climate action. She highlighted that 2025 marked the tenth anniversary of Norway’s Sectoral Dialogue Partnership with ASEAN, with one tangible example being the long-standing collaboration between the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) and ACE through the ASEAN Climate Change and Energy Project (ACCEPT) since 2018. She expressed appreciation that ACCEPT Phase II has provided research and dialogue platforms that helped embed just and inclusive energy transition considerations into the APAEC 2026–2030. To conclude, she reaffirmed Norway’s readiness to share technical expertise and continue exploring avenues of collaboration with ASEAN in line with the newly finalised ASEAN–Norway Practical Cooperation Areas.
The reception wrapped up with reaffirmed commitment to strengthens ASEAN’s regional energy cooperation. Moving forward, ACE will continue to work with ASEAN Member States, Dialogue Partners, Sectoral Dialogue Partners, and International Organisations in implementing the APAEC 2026-2030 and translate the energy priorities into concrete action.
The ASEAN Energy Reception was supported by the UK Mission to ASEAN through the ASEAN-UK Green Transition Fund (GTF) and Government of Norway through the ASEAN Climate Change and Energy Project (ACCEPT).
Materials from the briefing session can be accessed here.
