Kuala Lumpur: Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has called for deeper regional cooperation among ASEAN utilities to harmonise regulations, modernise grids, and strengthen collective efforts towards a just and sustainable energy transition. TNB president and chief executive officer Datuk Megat Jalaluddin Megat Hassan said ASEAN’s power sector has two noble objectives, namely to support the energy transition while ensuring the region’s economies continue to grow sustainably.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Megat Jalaluddin emphasized that all ASEAN member states have made firm commitments to the energy transition, including Malaysia through its National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), with TNB playing a key role as the main industry driver. He stated that Tenaga Nasional, as the main player in the industry, will fully support the NETR as a national objective, believing that it provides clarity on the way forward.
Megat Jalaluddin highlighted the potential for ASEAN countries to leverage existing collaborative platforms, such as the Heads of ASEAN Power Utilities/Authorities (HAPUA), to strengthen joint system planning. He noted that establishing ASEAN collaboration on power industry system planning is a crucial first step for the region. With this platform, ASEAN can achieve the trilemma objectives of ensuring security of supply, affordability, and sustainability.
He further explained that modernising the regional power grid would require collective technology adoption and innovation sharing to create economies of scale. He suggested exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for the power industry, with AI-driven tools developed and shared across the ASEAN region.
However, Megat Jalaluddin pointed out that regulatory differences remain a significant challenge. Each country has its own regulations, and harmonising these among ASEAN countries is a critical element to address. He also mentioned the importance of defining projects of common interest, encouraging cross-border investment confidence, and establishing a single commercial hub for power trading as essential next steps.
Megat Jalaluddin stressed the necessity of creating a conducive investment climate to ensure funders and investors are confident of long-term returns, regardless of where they invest in ASEAN projects. While there is no scarcity of funds for ASEAN energy projects, issues of affordability and equity must be addressed. He noted the challenge is not scarcity of funders but determining who will bear the costs of energy, particularly green energy.
Lastly, he emphasized the importance of establishing a just energy transition, where the population of ASEAN would have equitable participation in the process.