Photo 1. All Participants of the AEO9 Country Visit to Cambodia
As part of the development process for the 9th ASEAN Energy Outlook (AEO9), the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) conducted a country visit to Cambodia on 20 February 2026 in Phnom Penh. This visit is part of a broader series of in-depth consultations being carried out across all eleven ASEAN Member States (AMS) between January and March 2025, with the aim of refining modelling inputs, validating assumptions, and fostering closer alignment between national priorities and regional energy analysis. The AEO9 Country Visits are supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through the ASEAN-UK Green Transition Fund (GTF).
Photo 2. Welcoming Remarks from the Host Country
The programme began with welcoming remarks from Dr Chhuon Sambath Ratanak, Director of Technique and Energy Business Policy Ministry of Energy and Mines of Cambodia. He welcomed the ACE delegation and Cambodian representatives, and reaffirmed Cambodia’s support for the development of the AEO9. He also highlighted the importance of stronger regional collaboration, data alignment, and technical exchange to ensure AEO9 reflects national priorities and supports ASEAN’s shared energy goals.
Photo 3. AEO9 Progress Updates led by Muhammad Rizki Kresnawan, Senior Energy Modeller of Modelling and Policy Planning (MPP) at ACE
The session was continued with remarks from ACE and technical session featured an AEO9 progress update presented by Muhammad Rizki Kresnawan, Senior Energy Modeller at ACE. He outlined the AEO9 development timeline and modelling framework, highlighting the essential role of high-quality national data in improving the accuracy and relevance of projections. The presentation also underscored the country's visits as a key milestone in promoting strong national ownership of the AEO9 outcomes.
Photo 4. Data Inputs and Assumptions for Model led by Afham Kilmi, Research Analyst of MPP at ACE
Following this, Afham Kilmi, Research Analyst of MPP at ACE, led a detailed consultation on data inputs and modelling assumptions, encompassing socio-economic indicators, policy frameworks, energy balance tables, sectoral energy demand, and supply and transformation data. The session sought to validate existing datasets, clarify methodological approaches, and identify any data gaps or areas in need of updating. It also encouraged cross-sectoral dialogue among representatives from energy agencies, utilities, and other relevant institutions, ensuring that thorough and consistent national inputs are provided to AEO9.
Continuing the technical session, Muhammad Ilham Rizaldi, Energy Modeller of MPP at ACE, presented the initial findings of the Baseline Scenario (BAS) and the AMS Target Scenario (ATS) for Cambodia. The session gave national stakeholders the opportunity to review preliminary projections on energy demand, supply, and transformation, while exploring how existing and planned policies are reflected in modelling. Participants shared their feedback on sectoral trends, technology uptake, and policy implementation timelines, helping to ensure that the country-level results more accurately capture Cambodia's energy landscape.
Photo 5. ASEAN Energy Investment Dissemination delivered by Dr Ambiyah Abdullah, Senior Research Analyst of MPP at ACE
The following session centered on discussions around the Regional Aspiration Scenario (RAS), presented by Muhammad Rizki Kresnawan, Senior Energy Modeller at ACE. Here, ACE presented its proposed definition and modelling approach for a more ambitious regional pathway aligned with ASEAN's long-term decarbonisation and sustainability goals. Through an interactive discussion, Cambodia’s representatives pinpointed potential policy levers, technology options, and intervention areas that could drive higher levels of ambition. The insights obtained will contribute to the calibration of the RAS and strengthen its applicability to national contexts. This is then immediately followed by Dr Ambiyah Abdullah, Senior Research Analyst at ACE, disseminating the ASEAN Energy Investment 2025 and its complementing capacity building roadmap while seeking data inputs from AMS for 2026’s report.
Photo 6. Muhammad Rizki Kresnawan, Senior Energy Modeller of MPP at ACE, presents the AEO8 report to the host country
The visit concluded with a Way Forward and Closing session delivered by representative of Muhammad Rizki Kresnawan, Senior Energy Modeller at ACE, conveying gratitude to Cambodia’s focal points and participating institutions for their active engagement and valuable technical contributions, noting that the feedback collected would directly inform the refinement of country-level results and the design of the RAS. ACE also walked through the next steps in the AEO9 process, highlighting upcoming technical engagements and ongoing coordination with AMS to ensure transparency and shared ownership of the final outputs. Beyond data validation, the visit served as an opportunity for knowledge exchange on scenario development, energy planning, and inclusive transition pathways, reaffirming ASEAN's collective commitment to a secure, resilient, and sustainable energy future.
