Photo 1. The ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy
Cooperation (APAEC) 2026-2030 Roundtable Session.
Jakarta, 2 December 2025 – The ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2026–2030 Roundtable Session, organised
by the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), were convened to disseminate the
collective strategies for the implementation of the APAEC 2026-2030, which was endorsed at the 43rd ASEAN Ministers on Energy
Meeting (AMEM) in October 2025. The event gathers 88 participants, from ASEAN dialogue
partners, international organisations, development partners, and financial
institutions. Supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) through the ASEAN-UK Green Transition Fund (GTF), the session provided a platform to align the ASEAN
Member States priorities as reflected in the APAEC 2026-2030 document and explore
and identify concrete partnership opportunities across the APAEC Programme
Areas.
Photo 2. Dato’ Ir. Ts. Razib
Dawood delivered welcoming remarks in the opening session (left), followed by a
presentation from Beni Suryadi (right).
The session opened with remarks by Dato’ Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood,
Executive Director of ACE, highlighted key takeaways from the 43rd AMEM.
He reaffirmed ASEAN’s commitment to strengthening regional energy security
while accelerating a just, inclusive, and low-carbon energy transition. Emphasising
the increasing complexity of the regional energy landscape, he underlined the
importance of coordinated action, stronger partnerships, and pragmatic
implementation under the APAEC 2026–2030.
This was followed by a scene-setting presentation by Beni Suryadi,
Senior Manager of APAEC and Strategic Partnership Department at ACE. He
reviewed the implementation results of APAEC Phase II: 2021–2025, noting
tangible progress across programme areas despite diverse national circumstances
and external challenges. The presentation also introduced the overarching
theme, targets, and programme structure of the new APAEC cycle, framing it as a
roadmap to achieve 30% renewable energy (RE) share in the Total Primary Energy
Supply (TPES), 45% RE in installed capacity, and 40% energy intensity reduction
by 2030.
An open roundtable discussion invited partners to share lessons learned
from supporting APAEC Phase II: 2021-2025 and to propose strategies for the
successful implementation of APAEC 2026–2030.
Photo 3. Presentation by Suwanto on APAEC PA 2
& 3 (left) and Naing Naing Linn on PA 4 (right).
Programme Area 2: Oil and Gas Connectivity, Security, and
Sustainability (OGCSS)
The roundtable for Programme Area 2 was introduced by Suwanto, Manager
of Fossil Fuels, Hydrocarbon, and Minerals (FOM) Department at ACE. He outlined the
evolution of the programme from the Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline (TAGP) towards a
broader OGCSS, reflecting ASEAN’s need to balance energy security with decarbonisation.
Discussions focused on methane abatement, the evolving role of natural gas in
the energy transition, and the future of TAGP cooperation. The session
highlighted the need to revitalie TAGP cooperation and to integrate gas
strategies within broader regional decarbonization pathways.
Programme Area 3: Clean Coal
Transformation
The Programme Area 3
roundtable, led by Suwanto, Manager of FOM Department at ACE, addressed
one of ASEAN’s most complex transition challenges: coal. The session reviewed
achievements under APAEC 2021–2025, and the programme’s name evolution to Clean
Coal Transformation (CCTR), signaled ASEAN’s commitment to responsible
transition. The discussion underscored the growing difficulty of coal-related
financing, even for efficiency upgrades or emissions reduction, and stressed
the need for practical mitigation solutions in the near term. ACE concluded
that coal cannot be addressed in isolation, as it is intrinsically linked to
power system stability, energy security, and the broader energy transition.
Programme Area 4: Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C)
The Programme Area 4
roundtable was presented by Naing Naing Linn, Manager of Energy
Efficiency and Conservation (CEE) Department, ACE, who reaffirmed energy
efficiency as a cornerstone of ASEAN’s energy transition. Key takeaways focused
on accelerating progress towards the 40% energy intensity reduction target by
2030, particularly in transport and industry sector. Discussions highlighted
the importance of harmonised minimum energy performance standards (MEPS), zero energy
buildings (ZEB), innovative financing models, digital energy management
systems, and stronger private sector engagement to scale up EE investments
across the region.
Photo 4. Presentation by Dr. Tharinya Supasa on
APAEC PA 5 (left) and Dr. Zulfikar Yurnaidi on PA 6 (right).
Programme Area 5:
Renewable Energy (RE)
Presented by Dr.
Tharinya Supasa, Manager of Sustainable and Renewable Energy (SRE)
Department, ACE, the Programme Area 5 session underscored ASEAN’s ambition to
achieve a 30% RE share under TPES and 45% RE share in installed capacity by
2030. Key takeaways included the need to simultaneously scale up renewable
deployment and strengthen grid integration, system flexibility, and
market-based mechanisms. Participants highlighted financing, energy storage,
biofuels, and distributed energy resources as priority areas, alongside the
role of renewables in decarbonising transport, industry, and buildings.
Programme Area 6:
Regional Energy Policy and Planning (REPP)
The Programme Area 6
roundtable was introduced by Dr. Zulfikar Yurnaidi, Manager of Energy
Modelling and Policy Planning (MPP) Department, ACE, who highlighted the
critical role of data, modelling, and policy coherence in supporting a just and
inclusive energy transition. Key takeaways emphasised strengthening regional
energy outlooks, bridging investment gaps, integrating climate and energy planning,
and enhancing cross-sectoral coordination. Robust planning tools and
evidence-based policymaking were identified as essential enablers for achieving
APAEC 2026–2030 targets.
Programme Area 7: Civilian Nuclear Energy (CNE)
The Programme Area 7
session was presented by Nadhilah Shani, Manager of Power Generation and
Interconnection (PIN) Department, ACE, focusing on positioning civilian nuclear
energy as a potential low-carbon option for ASEAN. Key takeaways highlighted
the importance of equipping policymakers with objective insights on nuclear
safety, security, safeguards, and regulatory frameworks, while respecting
diverse national stances. Capacity building, public communication, and regional
knowledge-sharing platforms were identified as critical foundations for
informed decision-making.
Photo 5. Opening remarks by Dato’ Ir. Ts. Razib
Dawood, Executive Director of ACE (left) and H.E. Satvinder Singh,
Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Economic Community (right).
On 3 December 2025, the session
continued with the welcoming remarks by Dato’ Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood,
Executive Director of ACE, expressed appreciation for continued engagement and
strong support from partners. He underscored the APG’s growing relevance in
enabling renewable energy integration, enhancing regional energy security, and
supporting ASEAN’s long-term decarbonisation objectives. In his remarks, H.E.
Satvinder Singh, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for the ASEAN Economic
Community (AEC), emphasised that the APG represents a defining element of
ASEAN’s shared energy future. He highlighted the importance of sustained
collaboration, institutional alignment, and coordinated financing to translate
regional ambitions into tangible cross-border infrastructure and market
outcomes.
Photo 6. Presentation by Nadhilah Shani on PA 1
(left) and APG roundtable session (right).
Programme Area 1: ASEAN
Power Grid (APG)
Following the scene-setting presentation
by Beni Suryadi, Senior Manager of APAEC and Strategic
Partnership at ACE on the overview of ASEAN Energy Cooperation. Nadhilah Shani,
Manager of the PIN Department at ACE, led the roundtable session on Programme
Area, which highlighted key achievements under APAEC Phase II: 2021–2025,
including the identification of 18 priority interconnection
projects through the ASEAN Interconnection Masterplan Study (AIMS) III,
and the endorsement of APG Enhanced Memorandum of Understanding and AIMS III
Phase 3. The roundtable discussion reaffirmed strong political and technical
support from partners, with key takeaways highlighted opportunities for
collaboration in renewable energy integration, battery energy storage systems,
subsea interconnections, geothermal development, regulatory reform, and
financing mechanisms.
ACE expressed appreciation for the active engagement and constructive
inputs from all partners and reaffirmed its commitment to incorporating these
perspectives into the implementation of the APAEC 2026–2030. The session
underscored that ASEAN’s pathway towards energy security and carbon neutrality
will depend not only on ambition, but on collective action, trust, and
long-term collaboration.
