MALAYSIA has urged fellow ASEAN member states to move “beyond deliberation to execution” as it assumed chairmanship of the 43rd ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM), hosted today at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
In his opening address today, Deputy Prime Minister II and Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, said Malaysia’s ASEAN leadership under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability” was aligned with its energy vision “Powering ASEAN: Bridging Boundaries, Building Prosperity.”
“This AMEM is a pivotal moment. We are not just closing out the current work plan but collectively charting the energy landscape for the next half-decade,” he told ministers and delegates from across the region.
Key deliverables tabled for endorsement include the launch of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) Phase II (2026–2030), a new strategic roadmap aimed at advancing a cleaner, more integrated, and resilient energy system across Southeast Asia.
The meeting will also witness the formal exchange of documents for the Enhanced Memorandum of Understanding on the ASEAN Power Grid (APG MoU), designed to facilitate multilateral power trade and cross-border connectivity.
Ministers are further expected to sign off on the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Petroleum Security (AFAPS), a mechanism to strengthen regional resilience against global fuel supply disruptions, and the launch of the APG Financing Initiative (APGF) to attract investment into key energy infrastructure.
In addition, the gathering will consider several long-term frameworks, including the Renewable Energy Long-Term Roadmap, the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database and Investment Platform, and terms of reference for the deployment of subsea power cables – all critical to achieving the region’s energy transition goals.
Progress updates will also be presented on two strategic initiatives: the ASEAN Nuclear Power Plant Deployment Framework and the Renewable Energy Certificate Framework.
Today’s session will be followed by a series of dialogues with international energy agencies, including the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), alongside the 4th AMEM-U.S. Dialogue and a Ministerial–CEO roundtable.
Tomorrow’s agenda includes the 19th East Asia Summit Energy Ministers’ Meeting and the 22nd AMEM Plus Three (AMEM+3) consultations with China, Japan, and South Korea.
“The decisions we make here will echo across our economies and directly impact the lives of over 670 million ASEAN citizens,” Fadillah noted. “Let us engage in constructive and decisive discussions to ensure the successful delivery of these commitments.” - October 16, 2025
