(KPL/VNA) As Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2025, Malaysia has announced that the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) will be one of its top strategic priorities, highlighting that regional energy transition has become an urgent competitive necessity.

Speaking at the ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF) 2025, held in Kuala Lumpur from October 15-17, Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) Fadillah Haji Yusof said the APG is defined as one of ASEAN’s most important strategic initiatives. It aims to strengthen regional energy cooperation, enhance energy security and increase the use of renewable energy.

He stressed that energy is a key driver in realising the vision of “ASEAN 2025: Inclusive and Sustainable”, noting that the APG is not only an infrastructure project but also a symbol of regional unity and connectivity.

Malaysia has identified the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the APG as one of its Priority Economic Deliverables (PEDs) during its ASEAN Chairmanship. To realise this ambition, Fadillah underlined that financing is essential, calling on ASEAN member states to mobilise both public and private investment to mitigate risks and create an enabling environment for long-term commitments. He also welcomed the proposal to establish an APG Finance Working Group, comprising the ASEAN Secretariat, the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), to accelerate the initiative’s implementation.

The ASEAN Energy Business Forum 2025, themed “Powering ASEAN: Cross-Border Connections and Building Prosperity”, is expected to serve as a platform to initiate partnerships and capture new opportunities for regional energy collaboration./

KPL