Member economies of ASEAN are strengthening efforts to safeguard regional energy security as the  Middle East crisis continues to pose risks on global oil and gas supplies.

The Department of Energy (DOE),  led by  Undersecretary Felix William B. Fuentebella convened the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME),an Ad Hoc Preparatory Meeting and Consultative Session ahead of a planned Special ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM).

Energy officials from Asean explored areas for cooperation such as supply diversification, improved access to energy resources, greater market transparency, and stronger emergency response coordination, citing prolonged  constraints in supply routes and shifts in trade flows in the Middle East.

He said the meeting seeks to come up with  regional responses to evolving global energy conditions, especially those that could affect supply availability and market stability. 

ASEAN officials raised the importance of monitoring systems and data transparency, while simultaneously advancing strategies for strategic stockholding and emergency reserves, taking into account each country’s specific national context.

Regional mechanisms were also reinforced, including the implementation of the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Petroleum Security and ongoing efforts to expand energy connectivity through the ASEAN Power Grid.

Fuentebella reaffirmed ASEAN’s commitment “ to  continue to build on its existing cooperation frameworks to support a stable and secure regional energy environment.”

A Joint Media Statement for the upcoming Special energy ministerial meeting  to create a platform for information sharing on agreed measures.

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