Photo 1. All Participants of the 9th ASEAN Energy Outlook (AEO9) Country Visit to Timor-Leste.
The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) conducted a Special Mission Visit to Timor-Leste on 4–5 February 2026 to support the development of the country’s first national Energy Balance Table (EBT). The two-day technical mission aimed to strengthen Timor-Leste’s national capacity in energy data management and establish a structured foundation for regular energy statistics reporting, an essential step as the country deepens its engagement in ASEAN energy cooperation. The special mission is supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth, & Development Office (FCDO) through the ASEAN-UK Green Transition Fund (GTF).
The programme brought together key institutions involved in energy data collection and management, including the Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals, the Directorate General of Electricity, Water and Sanitation, Autoridade Nacional do Petroleo (ANP), Electricidade de Timor-Leste, the National Directorate of Statistics, international organisations, academes, and other relevant stakeholders. The sessions fostered cross-institutional dialogue to improve coordination, clarify roles, and align national practices with international and ASEAN statistical standards.
Photo 2. Arlinda Miranda, as the host country representative, delivering the welcoming remarks
The programme opened with remarks from Arlinda Maria de Fatima Florindo Miranda, Director General of Regulation for Electricity and Water Sanitation (DGREAS) and Alternate Senior Officials on Energy (SOE) Leader of Timor-Leste. She emphasised that the workshop marked a crucial step in advancing the country’s energy data and statistical systems. She highlighted the importance of reliable energy data to support national planning and expressed Timor-Leste’s interest in continued collaboration with ACE to strengthen its energy sector development.
Photo 3. Rika Safrina, Senior Analyst at Modelling Policy and Planning (MPP), Silvira Ayu Rosalia, Energy Statistician at MPP, and Muhammad Rizki Kresnawan, Senior Energy Modeller at ACE, are delivering the sessions.
Throughout the first day, ACE introduced the role of energy statistics as the foundation for effective energy planning, policy evaluation, and sustainable development. The first session on the importance of energy statistics for planning, modelling, and ASEAN energy cooperation was delivered by Muhammad Rizki Kresnawan, Senior Energy Modeller at ACE. Following this, Rika Safrina, Senior Analyst at ACE, presented an introduction to international statistical standards, including the International Recommendations for Energy Statistics, as well as the structure and methodological foundations of the energy balances. Sessions on data requirements, sources, and institutional coordination mechanisms were led by Silvira Ayu Rosalia, Energy Statistician at ACE. Discussions on the role of EBT in tracking energy production, transformation, trade, and final consumption highlighted its importance for transparency and evidence-based decision-making. Technical exchanges enabled participants to map existing national data sources, identify data gaps, and explore practical approaches to improve data sharing and harmonisation.
On the second day, the mission shifted toward practical implementation. ACE guided participants through step-by-step processes for data collection, estimation methods for incomplete datasets, developing indicators, and the use of standard EBT compilation templates, and discussed best practices for documenting energy data. Discussions also highlighted how the EBT supports broader energy planning, including its role in long-term energy modelling, policy analysis, and regional reporting under the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) and the ASEAN Energy Outlook.
The mission concluded with closing remarks delivered by the ANP representative on behalf of the Government of Timor-Leste. Appreciation was expressed for the knowledge-sharing sessions, along with a reaffirmation of Timor-Leste’s commitment to strengthening its national energy data system. Participants agreed on the initial next steps toward developing Timor-Leste’s EBT, including the designation of focal points, improved inter-agency coordination, and the preparation of a roadmap for regular updates and validation. ACE reaffirmed its commitment to continue providing technical support through remote assistance, follow-up consultations, and integration into ASEAN’s wider energy statistics capacity-building initiatives.
