Belem: Malaysia aims to lead the development of a secure, affordable, and low-carbon energy system in Southeast Asia by combining stable policies with investable projects, modern infrastructure, and skilled human capital. Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) Malaysia chief executive officer Datuk Hamzah Hussin emphasized the importance of aligning growth with sustainability during a session at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) held in Belem, Brazil.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Hamzah highlighted that Malaysia is advancing from pilot projects to system-wide integration, focusing on creating a cohesive ecosystem that encompasses policy, finance, and infrastructure. He noted that cross-border initiatives such as the ASEAN Power Grid and potential hydrogen and carbon dioxide corridors would further accelerate regional collaboration. This effort is supported by the World Bank and Asian Development Bank under the ASEAN Centre for Energy’s Regional Project Preparation Facility, which aims to transform regional plans into bankable projects.
Hamzah stressed that the challenge lies in translating global lessons into local action, bridging the gap between policy and implementation. Malaysia’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and its target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 form the cornerstone of the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), which envisions a 70 percent renewable energy capacity mix by 2050, with an interim target of 31 percent by 2025.
The NETR outlines six key transition levers: renewable energy, energy efficiency, hydrogen, bioenergy, green mobility, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). It projects RM1.2-1.3 trillion (US$284-307 billion) in cumulative investment needs, presenting a transformative opportunity to stimulate economic growth, create high-value green jobs, and strengthen Malaysia’s energy security and competitiveness.
At the High-Level Dialogue, Malaysia reaffirmed its commitment to strategic global collaborations aimed at advancing sustainable progress. These partnerships are expected to bring investment, technology, and long-term market access for hydrogen, biofuels, and carbon-capture initiatives. Malaysia is actively expanding Green Sukuk, enhancing cooperation through the ASEAN Power Grid, investing in grid modernization and storage, and strengthening technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions to support reskilling and upskilling.
The session featured insights from thought leaders including moderator Kate Hughes from the Asian Development Bank, Tenaga Nasional Bhd’s chief distribution network officer Mahathir Nor Ismail, Energy Transition Commission chair Lord Adair Turner, and World Economic Forum head of sustainable finance Derek Baraldi.