A FIVE-DAY regional gathering aimed at advancing energy cooperation, investment, and connectivity across Southeast Asia is scheduled next month.
The Department of Energy (DOE), in collaboration with the Asean (Association of Souheast Asian Nations) Center for Energy (ACE) and Leverage International, officially launched the other day the 26th Asean Energy Business Forum (AEBF-26).
The gathering, which will take place from October 5 to 9, is expected to bring together energy minsters from the 11 Asean Member States, global industry leaders, and more than 1,500 delegates from across the region.
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the country’s hosting of AEBF-26 provides an important opportunity to translate Asean’s shared energy priorities into stronger partnerships, concrete investments,and projects that benefit the region.
‘As Asean Chairman, the Philippines wants AEBF-26 to be a platform where governments, industry, and investors move beyond discussions and build the partnerships needed to unlock the region’s enormous energy potential,’ Garin said.
ACE Executive Director Dato’ Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood underscored the scale of investment required to support Asean’s growing energy requirements and clean energy transition.
‘Our region needs around $200 billion in annual energy investment by 2030 and 75 percent of that, roughly $150 billion, must go toward clean energy. In 2001, we mobilized just $30 million. That gap is precisely what AEBF-26 exists to help close,’ Dawod said.
AEBF-26 will feature policy dialogues, high-level roundtables, business-to-business engagements, and exhibitions covering key regional priorities, including the Asean Power Grid, Renewable Energy Certificates, energy efficiency, and energy financing and investment.
The forum will also feature the Philppines Energy Investment Forum and the Asean Sustainable Aviation Fuel Conference, alongside the launch of the 9th Asean Energy Outlook and the Asean Energy Investment Report, as well as actives under the Sustainable Asean Energy Management Accreditation Scheme (Seamas) Program for the Energy Efficiency Certification Scheme.