Kuala lumpur: Malaysia, through the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA), today chaired the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME) Preparatory Meeting for the 43rd ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). The meeting brought together senior energy officials from all ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste to finalise policy proposals and regional energy directions that will be presented during the 43rd AMEM on October 16 and 17.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, PETRA stated that the discussions focused on strengthening regional cooperation in enhancing energy security, sustainability, and integration under the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2026-2030. Key outcomes of the meeting included the endorsement of new ASEAN targets under APAEC 2026-2030, such as a 40 percent reduction in energy intensity, a 30 percent share of renewable energy in the total primary energy supply, and achieving 45 percent renewable energy generation in installed capacity by 2030.

Additionally, the meeting approved several key initiatives, including the Enhanced Memorandum of Understanding on the ASEAN Power Grid, the ASEAN Long-Term Renewable Energy Roadmap, and the ASEAN Power Grid Financing Initiative. These initiatives are led by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and World Bank (WB).

PETRA also highlighted that ASEAN had achieved 34.4 percent of installed renewable energy capacity in 2023, nearly reaching the 35 percent target set for 2025. Furthermore, the establishment of the ASEAN School of Regulation in Malaysia will serve as a regional center of excellence for capacity building and knowledge sharing in energy regulation and the integration of renewable energy.

The meeting agreed to present several key recommendations to the 43rd AMEM, including the endorsement of APAEC 2026-2030, the Priority Economic Deliverables 2025, and the enhancement of cooperation with international dialogue partners, such as the International Energy Agency, the International Renewable Energy Agency, the ADB, and the WB.

Malaysia reaffirmed its commitment to driving an inclusive, equitable, and integrated energy transition by emphasizing the role of digitalization, innovation, and sustainable financing as key enablers of ASEAN’s green energy transformation, aligning with Malaysia’s MADANI aspirations.