The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) regional center in Singapore will become operational in the second half of 2024, opening the agency’s first office outside its headquarters in Paris, the agency announced on Tuesday.
On the occasion of its 50th anniversary, the IEA said the Singapore Center will work with all countries in Southeast Asia and the rest of the world to strengthen energy security and accelerate the transition to clean energy.
The Center will serve as a hub for IEA activities and engagement in the region and beyond, providing policy guidance, technical assistance, training and capacity building, and mutual support focused on expanding the deployment of renewable energy and other clean energy technologies. We aim to expand its use. The IEA says border electricity trade will improve access to finance for clean energy investments.
IEA Director General Dr. Fatih Birol said: “Through this Center, we stand ready to accompany all countries in the region in their efforts to provide affordable, reliable and modern energy to all their citizens. ” he said.
Dr Tan See Leng, Singapore’s Second Minister for Trade and Industry, said the center will be Singapore’s first international organization dedicated to energy, and will continue to provide advice on energy security and resilience, while also supporting regional decentralization. He added that it would revitalize steps toward carbonization.
The IEA was established in 1974 to coordinate responses to oil supply emergencies. Since Singapore joined the IEA as a member state in 2016, the two countries have strengthened cooperation to foster capacity building and policy exchanges in Southeast Asia, including through the Singapore-IEA Regional Training Hub and the Singapore-IEA Forum. .