Photo 1. (from left to right) Dato’ Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood, Executive Director of ACE, H.E. Sharon S. Garin, Secretary of Department of Energy of the Philippines and Dr Pongpan Vorasayan, Director, Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE), Ministry of Energy, Thailand at the Launch of SAEMAS.
Manila, 8 October 2026—The Sustainable ASEAN Energy Management Certification Scheme (SAEMAS) was officially launched at the 26th ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF-26), held in conjunction with the 44th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) in Manila, Philippines.
SAEMAS is ASEAN’s regional certification scheme for energy management professionals, mandated under the region’s energy blueprint, the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2026-2030, Programme Area 4: Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C), to accelerate the regional goal to reduce energy intensity by forty percent (40%) by 2030.
Developed since 2022 with support from the ASEAN-Japan Energy Efficiency Partnership Programme (AJEEP), and under Energy Efficiency & Conservation Sub-Sector Network (EE&C-SSN), SAEMAS is an elevated version from the earlier ASEAN Energy Management Accreditation Scheme (AEMAS), transforming into a more strengthened that complements existing national schemes, builds a regional pool of certified Energy Management Professionals (EMP) equipped with theoretical, practical, and energy auditing skills.
SAEMAS establishes a common competency standard for energy management professionals across the region. Certification is built on the Common Standard Module (CSM), which combines lecture-style training, hands-on practical training, and energy audit training with a competency-based assessment. Certified professionals are listed in a regional register, giving industry, building owners, and governments a trusted benchmark of energy management competence.
The official launch was held following the SAEMAS endorsement at the 30th Energy Efficiency & Conservation Sub-Sector Network (EE&C-SSN) Meeting back in April 2026, and the acknowledgement by the 44th AMEM. The initiative forms part of the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship Annual Priorities on Energy and supports the objectives and implementation of the APAEC 2026-2030.
The launching unveiled the SAEMAS introductory video, SAEMAS Guidelines for EMP Applicants, SAEMAS CSM Handbook, digital web platform, and EMP certificate.
A Joint Acknowledgment of Cooperation between ACE and the Department of Energy (DOE) Philippines was also signed, symbolising support for the regional implementation of SAEMAS. The official document was signed by H.E. Sharon S. Garin, Secretary of Department of Energy of the Philippines and Dato’ Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood, Executive Director of ACE. Witnessed by Mario C. Marasigan, Undersecretary, DOE, and Beni Suryadi, Senior Manager, ACE.
“We are proud that SAEMAS is one of the priority energy deliverables under the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairmanship 2026. Today we celebrate the result of a collective regional effort, and I congratulate everyone involved in the development and the official launch of the Sustainable ASEAN Energy Management Certification Scheme (SAEMAS),” said Dato’ Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood, Executive Director of ACE.
“As chair of the 44th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting, the Philippines is pleased to launch SAEMAS as one of the regional deliverables. The Philippines is also proud to sign the Joint Acknowledgement of Cooperation with ACE to advance a more energy-efficient nation. The Philippines looks forward to working with all ASEAN Member States and partners to make these results possible across the region,” said H.E. Sharon S. Garin, Secretary of Department of Energy of the Philippines.
“As Chair of the EE&C-SSN, Thailand reaffirms its support for SAEMAS. We stand ready to work with ACE and with all Member States to guide the scheme through its early years, and we encourage every Member State to consider steps to adopt and implement SAEMAS within its national context,” said Dr Pongpan Vorasayan, Director, Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE), Ministry of Energy, Thailand.
With its official regional launch, SAEMAS moves from development towards implementation, providing a shared framework to strengthen professional capacity, standards, and best practices in sustainable energy management across ASEAN. Through continued cooperation among 11 ASEAN Member States and regional partners, the scheme is expected to contribute to ASEAN’s broader efforts towards a secure, sustainable, resilient, and inclusive energy future.
About the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE)
The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) is an intergovernmental organisation driving multilateral energy cooperation and policy coordination among ASEAN Member States. Formally established on 1 January 1999 in Jakarta, Indonesia, ACE serves as the regional energy think tank, catalyst, and knowledge hub for ASEAN. Hosted by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia, ACE’s office is located in Jakarta, Indonesia. For more information: aseanenergy.org.
For further inquiries: [email protected].
