Malaysia Poised To Lead ASEAN Power Grid Implementation Next Year - DPM Fadillah

KUCHING, July 15 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is set to play a pivotal role in the implementation of the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) starting next year, with the country well-positioned to anchor the regional initiative aimed at integrating electricity transmission networks across Southeast Asia.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said key decisions regarding the APG roadmap were expected to be finalised at the 43rd ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) in Kuala Lumpur this October, following encouraging progress made during the recent Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME).

“The roadmap has been presented and received agreement in principle. If all goes well, implementation will begin as early as next year, subject to endorsement by ASEAN leaders,” he told reporters when met at the International Energy Week (IEW) 2025 here today.

Fadillah, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister said Malaysia was already ahead in terms of infrastructure readiness and cross-border interconnection, placing it in a strong position to support the rollout of the regional grid.

“Our grid system needs to be upgraded, and the grid has to be connected between countries. In Semenanjung, we are already connected to Thailand, Laos and Singapore.

“In Sarawak, we are already connected to Kalimantan Barat and they have to upgrade the entire grid system, so that they'll also be connected to Sabah… then, eventually, there will be a loop in Borneo and it will also be connected to southern Philippines.

“We are already connected with Thailand and Singapore, and this gives us a strong advantage…. What we need now is regulatory alignment among member states,” he said.

The APG, introduced in 1997, is a region-wide initiative to interconnect the electricity infrastructure among the bloc's 10 member countries, aiming to achieve fully integrated grid operation by 2045.

-- BERNAMA