Overview
Energy is key to realising the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)’s goal of a well-connected ASEAN to drive an integrated, competitive, and resilient region. However, energy also has long been a critical issue for ASEAN. The AEC’s establishment in late 2015 provides opportunities as well as challenges to meet the region’s primary energy requirement that has grown at an average of 3.5% annually between the period of 2007-2015. The latest ASEAN Energy Outlook (5th AEO, 2017) has projected that following a business-as-usual scenario, in 2040, ASEAN is expected to require more than 2.3 times its energy demand in 2015 to meet its economic growth targets.
In September 1980, ASEAN Economic Ministers convened the first ASEAN Economic Ministers on Energy Cooperation (AEMEC) in Bali, Indonesia. The Agreement on ASEAN Energy Cooperation signed by ASEAN Member States on 24 June 1986 marked the formal establishment of the energy cooperation.
Cooperation in the energy sector is guided by the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC), a series of five-year implementation plans for energy sector cooperation. ASEAN Member States cooperate to ‘enhance energy connectivity and market integration in ASEAN to achieve energy security, accessibility, affordability and sustainability for all’.
The current APAEC 2016-2025 Phase I: 2016-2020 is the fourth of these implementation plans, a continuation from the three previous energy plans namely: APAEC 1999-2004, APAEC 2004-2009 and APAEC 2010-2015.
Priority Areas of Cooperation
APAEC 2016-2025 covers the energy component of the ASEAN Economic Community Blueprint 2025. Its Phase 1 (2016-2020) directs ASEAN towards achieving the following strategic measures in seven programme areas:
- ASEAN Power Grid (APG): Initiate multilateral electricity trade in at least one sub-region in ASEAN by 2018.
- Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline (TAGP): Enhance connectivity within ASEAN for energy security and accessibility via pipelines and regasification terminals.
- Coal and Clean Coal Technology: Enhance the image of coal in ASEAN through promotion of clean coal technologies (CCT).
- Energy Efficiency and Conservation: Reduce energy intensity in ASEAN by 20% as a medium-term target in 2020 and 30% as a long-term target in 2025, based on 2005 levels.
- Renewable Energy: Aspirational target to increase the component of renewable energy to 23% by 2025 in the ASEAN Energy Mix (or TPES: Total Primary Energy Supply).
- Regional Policy and Planning: Better profile the ASEAN energy sector internationally.
- Civilian Nuclear Energy: Build capabilities in policy, technology and regulatory aspects of nuclear energy.
Current priorities of the ASEAN energy cooperation are to secure its energy needs and to create favourable conditions for ASEAN’s goals in clean energy development. The latter aligns with the efforts to promote energy transitions for sustainable development, policies and mechanisms in the region.
In addition to the current aspirational target of 23% share of renewable energy in the TPES, a consensus on a new regional target for renewable energy deployment in the power sector by 2025 is expected. Since the energy intensity reduction of 24.4% was already achieved as of 2019 based on 2005 levels, the current regional target is set at 30% by 2025. An even more ambitious energy intensity reduction target is expected to be announced soon via the release of APAEC Phase 2: 2021-2025.
To advance regional power integration and multilateral power trade in ASEAN, follow-up activities on the key recommendations to meet the minimum requirements for multilateral power trade are ongoing, including efforts to develop the supporting role of energy regulators in multilateral power trade, and complete the ASEAN Interconnection Masterplan Study (AIMS) III that updates the transmission infrastructure needed to support multilateral power trade and integrate renewables into the ASEAN Power Grid.
Sectoral Bodies
The ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM), consisting of ASEAN Ministers responsible for energy, is the highest policy making body in energy sector cooperation. The current AMEM was established in 1986 as a result of the 1980 ministerial level AEMEC’s transformation. AMEM meets once a year.
The Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME) is AMEM’s operating arm that acts as a consultative committee to promote and oversee the various cooperation activities envisaged in the framework agreed by ASEAN Member States.
Various energy Subsector Networks (SSN), Specialised Energy Bodies (SEB) and other energy platforms are organised to work under SOME or in coordination with SOME.
These bodies develop and implement the work programmes and activities under the seven (7) programme areas of the APAEC. They also provide technical recommendations to SOME and AMEM in their areas of specialisation and pursue joint and cooperative activities among Member States, with the help of their respective subsidiary bodies.
The SSNs and SEBs which implement the seven (7) APAEC programme areas are:
- Heads of ASEAN Power Utilities/Authorities (HAPUA)
- ASEAN Council on Petroleum (ASCOPE)
- ASEAN Forum on Coal (AFOC)
- Energy Efficiency & Conservation Subsector Network (EE&C-SSN)
- Renewable Energy Subsector Network (RE-SSN)
- Regional Energy Policy and Planning Subsector Network (REPP-SSN)
- Nuclear Energy Cooperation Subsector Network (NEC-SSN)
- ASEAN Power Grid Consultative Committee (APGCC)
- ASEAN Energy Regulators Network (AERN)
| No | Name of Sectoral Bodies | Year of Establishment | Function |
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1. |
ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) | 1980 | Discuss and provides high level directions for ASEAN energy cooperation. |
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2. |
ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME) | 1980 | Reports to AMEM. Shall act as a consultative committee to promote and keep under review the various cooperation activities envisaged in the framework agreed by ASEAN Member States. |
| 3. | ASEAN Forum on Coal (AFOC) | 1999 | Reports to SOME. Enhance ASEAN energy cooperation in the coal sector, promote intra-ASEAN busness opportunities in coal, and, conduct dialogues among coal sector players. |
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4. |
ASEAN Renewable Energy Sub-Sector Network (RE-SSN) | 1993 | Reports to SOME. Propose and implement joint activities in the area of renewable energy. |
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5. |
ASEAN Energy Efficiency and Conservation Sub-Sector Network (EE&C-SSN) | 1996 | Reports to SOME. Propose and implement joint activities in the area of renewable energy. |
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6. |
ASEAN Nuclear Energy Cooperation Sub-Sector Network (NEC-SSN) | 2010 | Reports to SOME. Forge ASEAN wide cooperation on the use of nuclear energy for power generation purposes. |
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7. |
Regional Energy Policy and Planning Sub-Sector Network (REPP-SSN) | 2003 | Reports to SOME. Undertake energy regional policy analysis, and, oversee the preparation and monitoring of regional energy plans. |
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8. |
ASEAN Energy Regulators’ Network (AERN) | 2013 | Reports through SOME. Forge closer cooperation among ASEAN Energy Regulators with a view to promote sustainability and economic development in the ASEAN region. |
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9. |
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2015 | Reports to AERN. Supports the works of HAPUA WG2 |
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10. |
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2015 | Reports to AERN. Supports the works of HAPUA WG4 |
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11. |
ACE Governing Council (AGC) | 1998 | Overall responsibility for the policy direction and supervision of the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE). |
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12. |
Heads of ASEAN Power/Authorities (HAPUA) Council | 2004 | Reports to AMEM. The highest authority within HAPUA, consisting the Head/Chairman of the Main National Utility of ASEAN Member States. Set cooperation focus and policy directions in the ASEAN electricity sector for AMEM’s approval. |
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13. |
HAPUA Working Committee | 2004 | Reports to HAPUA Council.
Responsible for implementing policies and decisions directed and approved by HAPUA Council; deliberate on all work proposals and progress reports based on the agreed work plans. Oversees five (5) Working Groups:
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14. |
ASEAN Power Grid Consultative Committee (APGCC) | 2008 | Reports to both HAPUA Council and SOME. Facilitate and assist the HAPUA Council in the implementation of the MOU on the ASEAN Power Grid. |
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15. |
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2017 | Reports to APGCC. Assist the APGCC in accelerating the realisation of the ASEAN Power Grid multilateral power trade. |
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16. |
ASEAN Council on Petroleum (ASCOPE) Council | 1975 | Reports through AMEM. Highest authority within ASCOPE and consists of the Heads of the National Oil Company in each ASCOPE member country. |
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17. |
ASCOPE National Committees Meeting | Reports to ASCOPE Council.
Implement the policies and decisions directed and approved by the ASCOPE Council. Oversees four (4) Task Forces:
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| Cooperation with Dialogue Partners/International Organisations | |||
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1. |
East Asia Summit Energy Ministers Meeting (EAS EMM) | 2007 | Discuss and provides high level directions for EAS energy cooperation. |
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2. |
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2007 | Reports to EAS EMM. Explore and identify areas of common interest of cooperation and make recommendations and formulate action plans on EAS energy cooperation for the EAS EMM’s consideration. |
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3. |
AMEM+3 Meeting | 2003 | Strengthen cooperation among ASEAN+3 countries. |
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4. |
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2001 | Reports to AMEM+3. Operating arm of AMEM+3 at the senior officials level. |
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5. |
SOME- METI (Japan) | 1999 | Strengthen policy dialogue to address regional energy issues and promote project cooperation in the field of energy. |
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6. |
SOME- Russia | 2010 | Strengthen policy dialogue between ASEAN and Russia and promote cooperation in mutually agreed areas. |
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7. |
SOME- United States | 2010 | Strengthen policy dialogue between ASEAN and U.S. and promote cooperation in mutually agreed areas. |
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8. |
SOME- European Union (inactive) | 2007 | Strengthen policy dialogue between ASEAN and EU and promote cooperation on energy security and investment in the energy sector. |
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9. |
AMEM – International Energy Agency (AMEM-IEA) | 2011 | Strengthen cooperation between ASEAN and IEA and to assist ASEAN in the implementation of its energy objectives, goals and measuresas set out in the APAEC. |
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10. |
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2012 | Reports to AMEM-IEA. Facilitate, promote and undertake collaboration in the mutually agreed areas. |
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11. |
AMEM – International Renewable Energy Agency (AMEM-IRENA) | 2018 | Exchange of relevant information, expertise and viewpoints in order to realise synergies, between ASEAN and IRENA |
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12. |
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2019 | Reports to AMEM-IRENA. Undertake joint actiities in line with the programmes under the RE-SSN of ASEAN and the applicable IRENA Programme. |
Key Documents
Key documents of the ASEAN energy cooperation, include:
- Declaration of the ASEAN Council on Petroleum (ASCOPE) (signed in Jakarta, 15 October 1975)
- Agreement on ASEAN Energy Cooperation (signed in Manila, Philippines, 24 June 1986)
- Agreement on the Establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Energy (signed in Manila, Philippines, 22 May 1998)
- Charter on the Establishment of the ASEAN Forum on Coal (1999)
- ASEAN Memorandum of Understanding on the Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline (signed in Bali, Indonesia, 5 July 2002)
- Memorandum of Understanding between the Heads of ASEAN Power Utilities/Authorities (signed on 4 May 2004)
- Memorandum of Understanding on the ASEAN Power Grid (signed in Singapore, 23 August 2007)
- ASEAN Petroluem Security Agreement (APSA) and Its Annex on Coordinated Emergency Response Measures (CERM) (signed in Cha-am, Thailand, 1 March 2009)
- Memorandum of Understanding on Energy Cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the International Energy Agency (signed in Brunei Darussalam, 20 September 2011)
- Instrument of Extension of the ASEAN Memorandum of Understanding on the Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline (signed in Bali, 25 September 2013)
- Protocol to Amend the Agreement on the Establishment of the ASEAN Centre for Energy (signed in Bali, Indonesia, 25 September 2013)
- Memorandum of Understanding on Energy Cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the International Renewable Energy Agency (signed in Singapore, 30 October 2018)
- ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC):
- APAEC 1999-2004 (1999)
- APAEC 2004-2009 (adopted at the 22nd AMEM, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines, 9 June 2004)
- APAEC 2010-2015 (adopted at the 27th AMEM, Mandalay, Myanmar, 29 July 2009)
- APAEC 2025 Phase I: 2016-2020 (adopted at 33rd AMEM, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 7 October 2015 )
- APAEC Phase II: 2021-2025
- Joint Ministerial/Media Statements:
AMEM
- Joint Press Release of the 1st AEMEC Meeting, Bali, Indonesia, 29 – 30 September 1980
- Joint Press Release of the 2nd AEMEC Meeting, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 27 April 1981
- Joint Press Release of the 3rd AEMEC Meeting, Manila, Philippines, 8 – 9 October 1981
- Joint Press Release of the 4th AEMEC Meeting, Singapore, 19 January 1983
- Joint Press Release of the 5th AEMEC Meeting, Bangkok, Thailand, 25 – 26 April 1985
- Joint Press Release of the 6th AEMEC Meeting, Jakarta, Indonesia, 12 – 13 March 1987
- Joint Press Release of the 7th AEMEC Meeting, Bandar Seri Begawan, 7 – 8 April 1988
- Joint Press Statement of the 8th AEMEC Meeting, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 22 – 23 June 1989
- Joint Press Release of the 9th AEMEC Meeting, Manila, Philippines, 12 – 16 November 1990
- Joint Press Statement of the 10th AEMEC Meeting, Singapore, 22 August 1991
- Joint Press Release of the 11th AEMEC Meeting, Bangkok, Thailand, 28 January 1993
- Joint Press Release of the 12th AEMEC Meeting, Bandar Seri Begawan, 2 April 1994
- Joint Press Release of the 13th AEMEC Meeting, Bali, Indonesia, 26 October 1995
- Joint Press Statement of the 14th AMEM, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 1 July 1996
- Joint Press Statement of the 15th AMEM, Manila, Philippines, 2 July 1997
- Joint Press Statement of the 16th AMEM, Singapore, 1 August 1998
- Joint Press Statement of the 17th AMEM, Bangkok, Thailand, 3 July 1999
- Joint Press Statement of the 18th AMEM, Ha Noi, Viet Nam 3 July 2000
- Joint Press Statement of the 19th AMEM, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, 5 July 2001
- Joint Press Statement of the 20th AMEM, Bali, Indonesia, 5 July 2002
- Joint Press Statement of the 21st AMEM, Langkawi Island, Malaysia, 3 July 2003
- Joint Media Statement of the 22nd AMEM, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines, 9 June 2004
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 23rd AMEM, Siem Reap, Cambodia, 13 July 2005
- Joint Media Statement of the 24th AMEM, Vientiane, Lao PDR, 27 July 2006
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 25th AMEM, Singapore, 23 August 2007
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 26th AMEM, Bangkok, Thailand, 7 August 2008
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 27th AMEM, Mandalay, Myanmar, 29 July 2009
- Joint Media Statement of the 28th AMEM, Da Lat, Viet Nam, 23 July 2010
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 29th AMEM, Jerudong, Brunei Darussalam, 20 September 2011
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 30th AMEM, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 12 September 2012
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 31st AMEM, Bali, Indonesia, 25 September 2013
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 32nd AMEM, Vientiane, Lao PDR, 23 September 2014
- Joint Ministerial Meeting of the 33rd AMEM, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 7 October 2015
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 34th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meting (AMEM), Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, 21 September 2016
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 35th AMEM, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines, 27 September 2017
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 36th AMEM, Singapore, 29 October 2018
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 37th AMEM, Bangkok, Thailand, 4 September 2019
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 38th AMEM, Virtual, 19 November 2020
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 39th AMEM, Virtual, 15 September 2021
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 40th AMEM, Virtual, 15 September 2022
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 41th AMEM, Bali, Indonesia, 24 August 2023
AMEM Plus Three
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 1st AMEM+3, Makati City, Metro Manila, Philippines, 9 June 2004
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 2nd AMEM+3, Siem Reap, Cambodia, 13 July 2005
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 3rd AMEM+3, Vientiane, 27 July 2006
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 4th AMEM+3, Singapore, 23 August 2007
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 5th AMEM+3, Thailand, 7 August 2008
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 6th AMEM+3, Mandalay, Myanmar, 29 July 2009
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 7th AMEM+3, Da Lat, Vietnam, 22 July 2010
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 8th AMEM+3, Jerudong, Brunei Darussalam, 20 September 2011
- Joint Ministerial Statement the 9th AMEM+3, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 12 September 2012
- Joint Ministerial Statement the 10th AMEM+3, Bali, Indonesia, 25 September 2013
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 11th AMEM+3, Vientiane, Lao PDR, 23 September 2014
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 12th AMEM+3, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 8 October 2015
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 13th AMEM+3, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, 22 September 2016
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 14th AMEM+3, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines, 28 September 2017
- Joint Ministerial Statement of The 15th AMEM+3, Singapore, 29 October 2018
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 16th AMEM+3, Bangkok, Thailand, 5 September 2019
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 17th AMEM+3, Virtual, 20 November 2020
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 18th AMEM+3, Virtual, Thailand, 16 September 2021
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 19th AMEM+3, Virtual, Thailand, 16 September 2022
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 20th AMEM+3, Virtual, Thailand, 24 August 2023
EAS Energy Ministers Meeting (EAS EMM)
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 1st EAS EMM, Singapore, 23 August 2007
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 2nd EAS EMM, Bangkok, 7 August 2008
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 3rd EAS EMM, Mandalay, Myanmar, 29 July 2009
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 4th EAS EMM, Da Lat, Viet Nam, 22 July 2010
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 5th EAS EMM, Jerudong, Brunei Darussalam, 20 September 2011
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 6th EAS EMM, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 12 September 2012
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 7th EAS EMM, Bali, Indonesia, 26 September 2013
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 8th EAS EMM, Vientiane, Lao PDR, 24 September 2014
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 9th EAS EMM, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 8 October 2015
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 10th EAS EMM, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, 22 September 2016
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 11th EAS EMM, Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines, 28 September 2017
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 12th EAS EMM, Singapore, 29 October 2018
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 13th EAS EMM, Bangkok, Thailand, 5 September 2019
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 14th EAS EMM, Virtual, 20 November 2020
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 15th EAS EMM, Virtual, 16 September 2021
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 16th EAS EMM, Virtual, 16 September 2022
- Joint Ministerial Statement of the 17th EAS EMM, Bali, Indonesia, 25 August 2023
Major Publications and Related Links to The Sector
- ASEAN Energy Outlooks prepared by the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE)
- Development Prospects for the ASEAN Power Sector (2015)
- A Feasibility Study for ASEAN Multilateral Power Trade (2019)
A wealth of resource and information on the work of ASEAN specialised energy bodies are available through the following links:
- ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE)
- Heads of ASEAN Power Utilities/Authorities (HAPUA)
- ASEAN Council on Petroleum (ASCOPE)
Other partners with whom ASEAN has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to cooperate with, are:
