KONTAN.CO.ID - BALI. The ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF) 2023, held in conjunction with the 41st ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM-41), under the theme "Accelerating Energy Connectivity to Achieve Sustainable Growth of ASEAN," concluded today with resounding success. The event, organised by the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) of the Republic of Indonesia, brought together Ministers on Energy of ASEAN & Timor Leste, Ministers on Energy of ASEAN Dialogue partners, energy industry leaders, experts, academias from across the ASEAN region and beyond. Dr Nuki Agya Utama, the Executive Director of ACE, highlighted the significant progress made in AEBF 2023. The triple helix forum emphasised the importance of collaboration and partnership between the representatives from industry, government, and academia to discuss energy and environmental issues. According to Dr Nuki, ACE is working hand in hand with the MEMR for the AEBF 2023 to provide valuable insights regarding the programme areas that fall under the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) Phase II: 2021-2025 to attain a secure, sustainable, and resilient energy future. He shared, "As we know, governments, businesses, investors, and academics in ASEAN member countries agree on the importance of regionalcooperation for sustainable energy security and interconnectivity to support ASEAN as a growth centre.”
On the second day, the sessions provided a platform for knowledge exchange, dialogue, among industry leaders, government representatives, academics, and experts. Discussions revolved around energy transitions, power grid interconnectivity, cleaner energy initiatives, critical minerals, natural gas utilisation, low-carbon investments, coal's role in the energy transition, and many more. Another highlight is, ACE has solidified its commitment to advancing energy collaboration, sustainability, and innovation across the ASEAN region by signing a series of significant Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with key regional and international partners. These MoUs were formalised during the 41st ASEAN Ministers on Energy (AMEM-41) alongside the ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF) 2023 on 25 August 2023, in the presence of ASEAN Ministers and the dialogue partners, underscoring the importance of these collaborations in shaping the region's energy landscape.
