Minister H.E Keo Rottanak Strengthens Energy Partnerships in Europe and ASEAN

Minister of Mines and Energy (MME) H.E. Keo Rottanak has concluded a two-week mission across Europe and Southeast Asia, reinforcing Cambodia’s role in regional energy interconnectivity and advancing partnerships to support the Kingdom’s clean energy transition.

The mission began in Paris, where the Minister and his delegation, which included H.E. Dr Ty Norin, met with leading French companies TotalEnergies, EDF, and VINCI. Each has a long-standing presence in Cambodia and is expanding its focus on renewable and sustainable projects. The meetings highlighted collaboration on energy diversification and infrastructure modernisation through technology transfer and investment.

From Paris, the delegation travelled to Brussels for the Global Gateway Forum, where the Minister spoke at the Scale-Up Session on the ASEAN Power Grid (APG).

“Cambodia welcomes cooperation with partners on co-investment, technology transfer, and skills development to strengthen regional capacity.”
H.E. Keo Rottanak said.

The discussions coincided with the signing of an administrative arrangement between the European Commission, European development finance institutions, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to scale up support for the APG under the Global Gateway strategy.  

After returning briefly to Cambodia, the Minister attended the 43rd ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) and Its Associated Meetings, held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The meetings reaffirmed ASEAN’s shared commitment to energy security, decarbonisation, and enhanced power connectivity. Minister Keo Rottanak reiterated Cambodia’s support for the implementation of these commitments and emphasised the importance of continued coordination on regulatory, technical, and financing measures with ASEAN partners.

The Minister also took part in the 3rd AZEC Ministerial Meeting and held bilaterals with Singapore’s Dr Tan See Leng, ADB, the World Bank, and ConocoPhillips, as well as a Cambodia–Lao PDR–Viet Nam trilateral.

MME will carry this agenda forward by coordinating standards, securing concessional and private capital, and delivering cross-border and domestic projects that support affordable decarbonisation.

Documents Endorsed and Adopted

The meetings concluded with the endorsement and adoption of several key regional frameworks and statements, including:

• Enhanced Memorandum of Understanding on the ASEAN Power Grid.

• ASEAN Framework Agreement on Petroleum Security.

• ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation 2026–2030.

• ASEAN Renewable Energy Long-term Roadmap.

• Terms of Reference for ASEAN Submarine Power Cables Development Framework

• Terms of Reference for the Development of Regional Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) Framework.

• Joint Media Statements of the 43rd ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting, the 22nd ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting Plus Three (China, Japan, Korea) and the 19th East Asia Summit Energy Ministers Meeting.