Energy Transition: ASEAN Countries Urged To Tap Regional, International Cooperation

By Ammar Shafiq Hamzah

KUCHING, June 18 (Bernama) -- ASEAN member countries should take advantage of the various cooperation opportunities and support offered by regional and international partners to advance the transition to renewable energy.

Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) deputy secretary-general (Energy),  Mareena Mahpudz, said numerous initiatives are currently being developed to strengthen the renewable energy sector.

These include programmes coordinated by the ASEAN Secretariat and the ASEAN Centre for Energy based in Jakarta, Indonesia.

"Through these organisations, a wide range of energy-related initiatives are available to interested ASEAN countries. Indeed, ASEAN has many opportunities and invitations to collaborate with international partners offering various forms of support," she said.

She noted that such cooperation involves not only funding, but also technical expertise and human capital development.

Mareena was speaking to Bernama in an exclusive interview during the 43rd ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME) held here.

Citing Russia as an example, she said the country possesses significant expertise in nuclear technology and has extended several cooperation programmes to ASEAN nations.

"These developed countries also offer various other forms of assistance, including human capital development. They often sponsor accommodation, waive participation fees, and provide other related assistance. They are clearly committed to supporting ASEAN’s development,” she said.

From the perspective of project financing, she highlighted the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as one of the financial institutions actively supporting ASEAN member states.

“For example, Laos is currently implementing several projects under agreements with the ADB. Similarly, major economies such as China are also providing financial support.

“In terms of opportunities, I believe there is no shortage. Various avenues are available to support the region’s transition to renewable energy,” she added.

The 43rd ASEAN-SOME and related meetings are being held from June 16 to 18, involving approximately 250 delegates, including senior energy officials and representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat and the ASEAN Centre for Energy.

All 10 ASEAN member states – Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam – are participating, while Timor-Leste is attending as an observer.

Dialogue partners such as China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, and the United States are also present, alongside representatives from the International Renewable Energy Agency, the International Energy Agency, the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, the ADB, and the World Bank.

-- BERNAMA