Singapore-International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) High-Level Forum

Keynote:

H.E. Keo Rottanak, Minister of Mines and Energy, Kingdom of Cambodia

H.E. Satvinder Singh, Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Economic Community

Panellists:

Eric Pang, Director, Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, Hong Kong SAR

Datuk Sharbini Suhaili, Group Chief Executive Officer, Sarawak Energy

Frank Phuan, Business Chief Executive Officer, EDP Renewables APAC

Dannif Danusaputro, Chief Executive Officer, PT Pertamina Power Indonesia

Grégory Thomassin, Vice President of Business Development, TotalEnergies Renewables Asia Pacific

Moderator: Laura Ashton, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Low Carbon Advisors

Transforming energy system comes with its challenges. As a key enabler in our decarbonisation efforts, regional interconnectivity plays a crucial role in meeting the rising energy demand and in improving energy access. It would also enable the sharing of flexible resources and operating reserves where markets and regulations are appropriately set. Strengthening its potential would require forward-looking planning, modernisation and expansion of supporting infrastructure on land and sea to facilitate the development, storage, distribution and transmission, and consumption of renewables.

• How can increased regional interconnectivity contribute towards the region’s energy security and resiliency.
• What are some of the key challenges inhibiting the development of a regional grid system.
• How do you envision the future of regional interconnectivity within ASEAN and its role in driving the region’s energy transition goals in the coming years.

Keynote:

H.E. Dr Saynakhone Inthavong, Vice Minister of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Lao PDR

Presented by:

Panellists:

Tuan Mohammed Rashdan bin Mohd Yusof, Chairman, Energy Commission (Malaysia)

Kazunari Fukui, Regional Executive Director, Decarbonization, Asia, GE Gas Power

Jeanne Soh, Co-Head, Structured Finance Asia, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC)

Shaun Gregory, Executive Vice President, New Energy of Woodside Energy

Timothy Histed, Regional Head for Southeast Asia, Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)

Moderator: Lavan Thiru, Executive Director, Infrastructure Asia

Funding the energy transition at the pace required to keep the world on a climate-safe pathway will require a substantial increase in investments. To enable an energy system aligned with the 1.5°C target, investment in energy transition technologies and related infrastructure will need to rise to over USD 130 trillion by 2050, with the bulk of investment focusing on renewable energy, energy efficiency, electrification and infrastructures. This is expected to make up around two-thirds of the total investments and governments and we will need to catalyse more private funds at scale to crowd-in and complement public capital.

• How has the investment landscape in the energy transition evolved over the years.
• What are some of the key opportunities and/or challenges associated with investments in emerging markets.
• What are the global and regional trends/initiatives shaping the future of investments in the energy transition. How can investors and multilateral development banks align with these trends.

This session will provide a summary of the discussions and an outlook on the road ahead. Beyond strengthening collaboration and the development of low-carbon alternatives and financing initiatives, how can we stay on track towards SDG 7 and what more can government, corporations, and investors do to further align and catalyse new and emerging economic opportunities emerging from this transition.

Liu Hongpeng, Director, Energy Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific

Henry Haggard, Director, Energy Diplomacy, Department of State, United States

Moderator: Ambassador Brian McFeeters (ret.), Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director, US-ASEAN Business Council