Ratification of ASEAN Oil Sharing Agreement to Be Completed Before 49th Summit

Jakarta (ANTARA) - ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn has assured that the ratification process for the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Petroleum Security (APSA) will be completed before the 49th ASEAN Summit at the end of this year.

The agreement, in addition to enhancing regional cooperation and integration in the energy sector, will also enable ASEAN members to assist each other during fuel shortages.

“The officials of the member states have received instructions from their leaders to accelerate the (ratification) process of APSA by all member countries,” said the ASEAN Secretary-General during a press conference on the outcomes of the 48th ASEAN Summit at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta on Monday.

“Each country will continue the process in its legislative bodies and complete the entire process domestically as soon as possible,” he added.

As the process is currently at the domestic level, Secretary-General Kao could not yet specify a more precise timeline for when the APSA ratification will be completed.

“However, it must certainly be done. There is no doubt that APSA will be finalised before the 49th ASEAN Summit, and I very much hope for this,” said the ASEAN Secretary-General.

Meanwhile, regarding which country would be the initial recipient of oil assistance from fellow ASEAN members under APSA, he assured that this is still under discussion at the regional level.

At the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu recently, ASEAN leaders agreed to support the acceleration of energy sharing mechanisms and regional electricity interconnection amid concerns over energy supply disruptions due to conflicts in the Middle East.

One concrete step discussed was the acceleration of APSA ratification.

“The leaders agreed on the importance of a stable and reliable energy supply chain, stronger energy interconnectivity, and the acceleration of diversification towards alternative and renewable energy sources,” said Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos.

ASEAN economic ministers were also reported to have approved the acceleration of APSA’s completion amid global oil supply route disruptions.

The APSA mechanism allows ASEAN members to supply fuel to other members experiencing a shortage of at least 10% of their domestic needs.

Meanwhile, the 49th ASEAN Summit is scheduled to take place from 10 to 12 November 2026 in Manila, the capital of the Philippines.