Annex B 4.7: Establishment of a Ministerial Dialogue on Energy

Area of Cooperation

Ministerial Dialogue on Energy

Purpose

To exchange views and best practices on energy developments, at the Ministerial level.

Description

Australia and Singapore share a longstanding commitment to collaboration in support of ambitious action on climate change. The Ministerial Dialogue on Energy will be a forum for deepening and extending this strong partnership through bilateral discussion of opportunities for practical cooperation on the transition to net zero.

Specific Objectives

To exchange views and best practices on matters relevant to the clean energy transition at the Ministerial level, as mutually agreed by Australia and Singapore, with a focus on opportunities for practical cooperation on the transition to net zero.

Desired Outcomes

The Ministerial Dialogue on Energy will deliver elevated bilateral cooperation on the energy transition between Australia and Singapore. This may take the form of practical collaboration or joint efforts including in relation to:

• supporting the development of compatible decarbonisation and energy security policies both bilaterally and regionally, including growing renewable energy capacity and facilitating a stable supply of natural gas and other low carbon fuels as the region transitions to net zero
• developing and promoting regulatory standards, harmonisation and governance to facilitate cross-border electricity trade (CBET) and enhance regional connectivity, including potential mutual recognition of high-integrity Renewable Energy Certificates for CBET;
• identifying trade and investment opportunities for businesses and encouraging and facilitating investment and financing into cross-border electricity trade projects;
• capacity building efforts across ASEAN to strengthen national electricity grids and enable greater regional energy connectivity, and supporting institutional collaboration on regional grid integration;
• exploring the development and alignment of standards for low-carbon hydrogen and its derivatives
• working towards a legally binding bilateral instrument for the cross-border movement of carbon dioxide for offshore geological sequestration, so as to meet Australia's obligations under the London Protocol
• other topics as mutually agreed.

Project Leads

Singapore

Ministry of Trade and Industry Singapore

Australia

• Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
• Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
• And the participation of other agencies, as needed.