ASEAN CAN BECOME ‘BATTERY FOR THE WORLD’ THROUGH SMART GRID INTEGRATION — FADILLAH

JAKARTA, Feb 11 (Bernama) -- ASEAN must accelerate the development of smart grid systems and digitalisation to boost regional energy cooperation and position the bloc as a global green energy powerhouse, said Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

He said digitalisation must be strengthened to support cross-border electricity interconnections among member states, while also improving coordination in managing regional power systems.

“We have to look into smart grid systems. Digitalisation will need to be in place. Everybody will share in terms of our commitment, not only for climate mitigation, but also for green initiatives. And eventually ASEAN can become the power or battery for the world,” he said during a panel session at the ASEAN Climate Forum here, on Wednesday.

Fadillah, who is also the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, said ASEAN holds great potential to become a major player in the green economy.

“ASEAN has that opportunity. Only if we collaborate and work together, can ASEAN prosper,” he added.

Indonesian Special Presidential Envoy for Energy and Climate, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, also participated in the session. 

Fadillah said Malaysia is ready to contribute and support the Philippines, as the ASEAN Chair, to pursue the agenda this year, particularly in advancing the ASEAN power grid initiative, which has secured a US$2 billion commitment from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

In this regards, he said blended financing and external investment remains critical to support ASEAN in achieving regional grid connectivity. 

He noted that efforts are ongoing to enhance interconnectivity across ASEAN through projects such as the Borneo Grid initiative, which links Sarawak and Sabah, Kalimantan, and Brunei with Peninsular Malaysia via undersea cable.

He said Peninsular Malaysia, meanwhile, is already connected to Singapore, Thailand, and Laos, while an agreement has also been signed between Malaysia and Vietnam for connectivity via undersea cable.

He was confident that the initiative will allow the entire region to be interconnected, enabling ASEAN countries to share energy resources.

The Deputy Prime Minister is currently on a three-day working visit to Jakarta beginning yesterday.

-- BERNAMA