Dr Tan See Leng, Singapore’s Second Minister of Trade and Industry, and Jennifer M. Granholm, the US’s Secretary of Energy, met in Singapore at the sidelines of the US-Southeast Asia Clean Energy Roundtable on July 14.
At the meeting, both Tan and Granholm stressed the importance of energy cooperation between both countries. They also affirmed the importance of strengthened cooperation on energy security, clean energy transitions and regional energy interconnectivity.
In addition, both ministers acknowledged the urgency to accelerate energy transitions in the region to reach net zero climate goals. Furthermore, they agreed that international cooperation is critical to harness the untapped renewable energy potential in Southeast Asia, stimulate clean energy investment flows, and generate new green jobs.
During their meeting, Tan and Granholm welcomed further cooperation on regional energy interconnectivity to enhance energy security and strengthen grid resilience. They have also both expressed interest in a feasibility study on enhancing energy connectivity in the region.
In the statement released by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) on July 15, the ministers also recognised that governments can provide an enabling environment that leverages new growth opportunities. The statement adds that the ministers welcomed the efforts of policymakers, private sector and financiers working to scale up the deployment of renewables and emerging low-carbon energy technologies in the region.
