The International Energy Agency (IEA) Governing Board is convening in Singapore for the first time, marking a significant step in international energy cooperation. The meeting, held on 28 and 29 October 2025, coincides with the 18th Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) and underscores the importance of regional energy interconnectivity and security. Singapore and the IEA are focusing on the ASEAN Power Grid’s role in creating a sustainable energy future for Southeast Asia.
The meeting will feature a Special Joint Session with senior energy policymakers from ASEAN and the IEA’s 32 member countries. Discussions will centre on key regional energy challenges, including the ASEAN Power Grid and Southeast Asia’s role in critical mineral supply chains. This collaboration aims to strengthen energy security and explore opportunities for regional cooperation.
Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science and Technology, Tan See Leng, highlighted the IEA’s longstanding partnership with Southeast Asia, emphasising the region’s pursuit of energy security, sustainability, and innovation. “Singapore is honoured to play host to the IEA Governing Board for its first-ever meeting outside Paris,” he stated.
The IEA Executive Director, Fatih Birol, noted Southeast Asia’s crucial role in global energy demand, which is projected to account for a quarter of the growth in global energy demand by 2050. He stressed the importance of regional coordination and international partnerships to address energy security and emissions concerns.
The meeting in Singapore sets the stage for continued cooperation ahead of the IEA Ministerial Meeting in Paris in February 2026, aiming to advance regional energy security and decarbonisation efforts.
