Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof highlighted Brunei Darussalam’s initiatives and efforts in enhancing energy security in ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy, and key energy transition strategies that includes increasing renewable energy share in the total energy mix to at least 30 per cent by 2035, primarily through development of large-scale solar.
He said this in a Ministerial Statement during the plenary session on ‘Addressing Energy Security and Justice Challenges in a Turbulent World’ at the 9th Asian Energy Ministerial Roundtable (AMER9) alongside the India Energy Week 2023 (IEW 2023) at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre, Bengaluru, India from February 6 to 8.
Accompanying Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi were High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam to India Dato Paduka Haji Alaihuddin bin Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Seri Lela Dato Seri Utama Haji Awang Mohd Taha; Acting Permanent Secretary (Energy) at the Prime Minister’s Office Pengiran Haji Jamra Weira bin Pengiran Haji Petra; and officials from the Department of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Organised by India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the IEW 2023, the first edition of India’s flagship energy event, themed ‘Growth. Collaboration. Transition.’, saw a special address by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday.
The prime minister stressed the country’s efforts to accelerate on energy transition by increasing their green hydrogen landscape, and called on investors to participate in the country’s green growth, as well as fossil fuel exploration.
IEW 2023 comprises four main events, namely, strategic conference, executive sessions, technical conference and leadership roundtables, focussing on issues of energy security and its challenges, as well as the demand for energy in line with the growing Asian economy.
Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi attended the Ministerial Session of the Strategic Conference themed ‘Strategies for a Sustainable and Decarbonised Future’, which focussed on the role of policymakers in accelerating the adoption of low-carbon options, including renewable energy, electric vehicles and hydrogen, and in ensuring collaboration to achieve an energy secure and low carbon future.
The discussions evolved around energy delivery, innovation and knowledge transfer, accessible and secure energy for all, and partnership and path to net zero.
AMER9, hosted by India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and in association with the International Energy Forum (IEF), was held yesterday, and themed ‘Mapping Stable and Secure Energy Pathways: Energy Security, Justice, Growth and Innovation’.
The discussions during the AMER9 mainly called for strengthening dialogue between producers and consumers to promote energy security and support the stability of markets, and increasing trade and investments for long-term energy security, justice, resilience and sustainability.
At the sidelines of both events, Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi called on India’s Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Shri Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday.
Both sides appreciated the important relations shared between Brunei Darussalam and India, underpinned by longstanding friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation, and look forward to explore more opportunities to further deepen the energy cooperation.
Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi also met with other ministerial attendees to both events, including Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Special Envoy for Climate Change of the United Arab Emirates Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, where both sides expressed interest in exploring collaboration, as well as sharing best practices particularly in the development of clean and renewable energy. He also met Secretary General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Haitham Al-Ghais, where both sides shared the importance of the common objective of the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) of the OPEC and Non-OPEC Producing Countries for a stable oil market.
Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbialso met President of Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) Hidetoshi Nishimura, where both sides discussed the potential collaboration on various energy initiatives pertaining to the development of sustainable energy in the Sultanate.
A special dinner took place yesterday evening, where ministerial delegates had opportunities to meet bilaterally and network.
