ASEAN Centre For Energy Receives NZ$200,000 Grant From New Zealand

JAKARTA, July 18 (Bernama) -- The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) has received a NZ$200,000 (about US$119,300) grant from the New Zealand Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry to support the region’s energy transition and the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC).

The contribution marks the first direct partnership between ACE and New Zealand, commemorating 50 years of ASEAN-New Zealand relations and reinforcing their shared commitment to sustainable energy development in the region.

ACE Executive Director Datuk Abdul Razib Dawood described the grant as a significant milestone in regional energy cooperation, expressing gratitude to New Zealand for its continued support.

“With New Zealand’s support, the Centre is proud to continue its efforts in advancing ASEAN’s energy cooperation for sustainable and secure energy development,” he said in a statement.

According to Abdul Razib, the APAEC serves as ASEAN’s blueprint for energy cooperation and outlines strategies to enhance regional connectivity, energy access, affordability and sustainability.

The grant will support three out of seven programme areas under APAEC, namely: ASEAN Power Grid (Programme Area 1), Renewable Energy (Programme Area 5), and Regional Energy and Policy Planning (Programme Area 6), he added.

New Zealand’s Ambassador to ASEAN, Joanna Jane Anderson, said the partnership reflects New Zealand’s commitment to ASEAN’s energy transition, including support for the ASEAN Power Grid, renewable energy, and continued collaboration with other ASEAN centres.

The contribution was discussed during Anderson’s meeting with Abdul Razib at the ACE headquarters in Jakarta on July 11.

-- BERNAMA