- The 41st ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) was hosted by Indonesia on 24 August 2023. H.E Arifin Tasrif, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia, chaired the Meeting. H.E. Phosay Sayasone, Minister of Energy and Mines of Lao PDR was the Vice Chair. The associated dialogue sessions with the Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Deputy Secretary of Energy of the United States were also conducted in conjunction with the 41st AMEM. The Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) was also in attendance. The Meeting also welcomed the Minister of Petroleum and Minerals of Timor-Leste as Observer.
- The Joint Opening Ceremony for the 41st AMEM and the ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF) 2023 was also officiated by H.E. Minister Arifin Tasrif. In his opening address, he emphasised the role of ASEAN as an epicentrum of growth that is marked by annual energy demand growth of 3% and an economic growth in 2023 which doubled from the previous year. He highlighted the key deliverable of Indonesia’s 2023 Chairmanship which seeks to address the region’s sustainable energy security through interconnectivity and emphasised that two-thirds of the region’s growing energy demand could be met by renewables. He looked forward to ASEAN’s interconnectivity platforms supporting the region’s pathways towards energy sustainability, secure growth, and enabling support for investments and partnerships.
By Nadeem Faisal Baiga
