The energy transition and water transformation ministry’s deputy secretary-general (energy) Mareena Mahpudz said the talks reaffirmed the strategic alignment between Asean’s sustainability agenda and Russia’s expertise in innovation and energy systems.

“We will also take stock of our shared progress, from regional initiatives to the development of this energy partnership plan,” she said during her opening remarks at the 16th Asean Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME)-Russia.

Elena Vikulova, deputy head of Russia’s directorate of international cooperation, noted that Southeast Asia’s rising energy demand presented strong opportunities for deeper engagement with Asean.

“The cooperation may include projects in areas such as oil and natural gas production, clean technologies, and alternative energy sources, all aligned with the global demand for sustainable energy solutions.

“We believe in a constructive, depoliticised energy dialogue and are committed to working with Asean countries to develop sustainable and reliable energy systems,” she said.

The current Asean-Russia Work Plan on Energy Cooperation for 2022-2025 was adopted and endorsed during the 14th SOME-Russia Consultation in 2023.

It forms part of the wider Asean Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) Phase II: 2021–2025, which targets 23% renewable energy in the Southeast Asian bloc’s energy mix and 35% energy intensity reduction by 2025.

The framework has helped Asean and Russia collaborate on capacity-building programmes, technical exchanges, and policy dialogues on sustainable energy, grid stability, and fossil fuel transitions.