Regional ties: Asean senior energy officials joining hands at the 26th SOME-Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in conjunction with the 43rd SOME meeting. — Bernama
KUCHING: The cross-border power interconnection project under the Asean Power Grid initiative is a key focus of the 43rd Asean Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME), which began on June 16.
Hosted by Malaysia’s Energy Transition and Water Transformation ministry (Petra), the three-day meeting is chaired by Petra secretary-general, Datuk Mad Zaidi Mohd Karli, in his capacity as Chair of Asean SOME 2025.
The meeting is reviewing progress on the Asean Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (Apaec) Phase II 2021-2025, and the direction and development of the upcoming Apaec 2026-2030 framework, Petra said in a statement.
“Discussions also centre on advancements in multilateral energy trading through the Lao PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore Power Integration Project,” the ministry said, Bernama reported.
“Topics related to energy transition policies are also in the spotlight, including scaling up renewable energy, enhancing energy efficiency, exploring nuclear energy potential and harmonising regional energy policies.”
The meeting brings together senior energy officials from all Asean member states, with Timor-Leste attending as an observer, and is a key platform to discuss energy policies and strengthen the strategic direction of regional energy cooperation.
Petra said the meeting lays the groundwork for the Asean Ministers on Energy Meeting (Amem), scheduled for October.
“Hosting the 43rd Asean SOME underscores Asean’s unwavering commitment to achieving sustainable, inclusive and resilient energy development in the region.
“With strong collaboration among all stakeholders, Asean is on a solid path to building a sustainable energy future that contributes to shared prosperity,” Petra said.
