The ASEAN Special Senior Officials’ Meeting on Energy 2024 and Its Associated Meeting (ASEAN Special SOME 2024) was held on 30 January – 1 February 2024 at the Pullman Hotel and Resort, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR. Representing the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam was Yang Mulia Hajah Farida binti Dato Seri Paduka Haji Talib, Permanent Secretary (Energy) at the Prime Minister’s Office, as the ASEAN Senior Official on Energy Leader for Brunei Darussalam. The 26th ASEAN Centre for Energy Governing Council Meeting (26th ACE GC) was also held as part of the associated meeting.
This year’s Special SOME was held under the leadership of Lao PDR as the SOME Chair and ASEAN Chair. The meeting discussed the follow-up requirements and directions from relevant ASEAN Meetings and the 41st ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM-41) as well as the accomplishment status and work plans under the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) Phase II: 2021-2025.
The Special SOME adopted the Lao PDR’s Chairmanship Energy Priority Deliverables in 2024, including the finalisation of substantive drafts of the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) Successor Agreement, Trans ASEAN Gas Pipeline (TAGP) Memorandum of Understanding, and extension of ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement. Additionally, progress on the 8th ASEAN Energy Outlook (AEO8) was reported which aimed for adoption by the 42nd AMEM in Vientiane, Lao PDR in September 2024.
Moreover, this Special SOME also commenced the development of the APAEC Post-2025, through the conduct of 1st APAEC Drafting Committee Meeting, aiming for the endorsement by the 43rd AMEM in Malaysia. Additionally, the Meeting also reiterated their commitment to the continued implementation of APAEC Phase II: 2021-2025, emphasising the strengthening of engagement and partnerships with Dialogue Partners (DPs) and International Organisations (IOs).
