There is no doubt that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) represents a growing region. It is growing from a demographic point of view, with a population that has nearly doubled in the last thirty years from 350 million to 650 million. It is growing from an economic point of view, with trade in goods reaching a value of USD 2.8 trillion, while foreign direct investments rose from USD 41.9 billion in 2005 to USD 154.7 billion in 2018. These two trends form the basis of the different directions taken on the energy issue in Southeast Asia, with new opportunities and challenges that have—and will continue to have—an impact not only on the region, but also on the entire planet. Although effective energy demand is still low compared to the global average, what is particularly interesting is the time span in which this demand has increased for ASEAN and the effects it could have on future political and economic decisions. Greater industrial output, expansion of population centers and an increase in the quality of life (from access to safe and high-quality energy sources to the most sophisticated home appliances) are just some of the elements that increase the energy demand in ASEAN countries. The response to this is increasingly immediate needs, which fall mainly under the term “energy security.” Energy security plays a leading role in the development of modern economies and societies, given that access to energy resources has become the cornerstone of most human activities. Traditional research on energy security usually revolves around nations and their efforts to ensure the required amount of energy at an appropriate price. Energy resources are also a commodity exchanged between countries and often play a key role in shaping diplomatic and commercial relations. Precisely to meet these needs, the same group of the ten nations of Southeast Asia has decided to establish a mechanism for dialog and cooperation called the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE).
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