Kuala Lumpur: Energy demand in the ASEAN and Asia-Pacific regions is anticipated to surge in the coming years, driven by the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) under the Fifth Industrial Revolution, as reported by Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the rise in energy demand will also be propelled by an ongoing quest for growth, pursuit of economic development, rapid urbanization, an expanding middle-income population, and demographic shifts within ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific. Petronas president/group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik Tengku Aziz shared these insights during the closing ceremony of the Energy Asia 2025 conference.

Tengku Muhammad Taufik emphasized the importance of strong collaborations and purpose-driven partnerships to navigate the evolving energy landscape. He stated that AI and energy must work in tandem to enhance the energy ecosystem. He remarked, ‘Looking at the energy ecosystem, it is indeed a more difficult prospect but probably even more facilitated because of AI. But, we believe AI will greatly and exponentially change energy systems once they are up and running.’

The conference saw the signing of 14 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) over its three-day duration. It also featured seven roundtables, 11 launches, and hosted 13,765 visitors. The Energy Asia 2025 event, themed ‘Delivering Asia’s Energy Transition,’ attracted over 4,092 delegates. The biennial conference is set to return as Energy Asia 2027, scheduled for June 2 to 7, 2027.