Kuala Lumpur: ASEAN Power Grid’s (APG) enhanced memorandum of understanding (MoU), expected to be finalized by the end of this year, will emphasize standardizing rules and regulations, aligning technical requirements, and establishing a financial model. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof stated that this enhanced MoU would set the stage for implementation during the Philippines’ chairmanship next year.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fadillah mentioned these focus areas during the Ministerial Plenary session titled ‘Enabling Asia’s Future Energy Ecosystem’ at the Energy Asia 2025 Conference. The APG, initiated in 1997, aims to interconnect the electricity infrastructure among ASEAN’s 10 member countries, with a goal of achieving fully integrated grid operation by 2045.
Fadillah, who also serves as the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, expressed Malaysia’s commitment, as the ASEAN chair in 2025, to enhance regional energy connectivity and accelerate the development of the APG. He noted the diverse energy resources available in ASEAN countries, such as hydropower, wind, solar, and ocean energy, which could position the region as a leading renewable energy supplier globally.
Additionally, Fadillah highlighted ASEAN’s consideration of establishing a regional regulator to streamline development and ensure standardized rules across member states. He emphasized the potential benefits of having an ASEAN regulator to oversee these efforts.
The 43rd ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting on Energy, commencing today, aims to align regional energy strategies and reinforce cooperation on shared priorities. The three-day meeting will concentrate on renewing the APG MoU and setting up a framework for subsea power cable projects.
According to the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) secretary-general Mad Zaidi Mohd Karli, the updated APG MoU is crucial for enhancing cross-border electricity connectivity and bolstering regional energy security. The meeting will also address draft guidelines for subsea cable projects, including plans to export hydropower from Sarawak to high-demand areas in Southeast Asia.