KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 4 — Asean members will sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to implement the Asean Power Grid (APG) at the bloc Energy Ministers’ Meeting this October.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the MOU will outline a roadmap for the APG, including the harmonisation of standards and regulations, as well as a business model for cross-border energy exchange among member states.
“These are the matters that will be spelled out in the MOU, with each country expected to take the necessary steps to realise the Asean Power Grid,” he told reporters after the soft launch of the Asean Energy Business Forum 2025 (AEBF) here today.
Also present were the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry secretary-general Datuk Mad Zaidi Mohd Karli, and Asean Centre for Energy executive director Datuk Razib Dawood.
Fadillah, who is also the energy transition and water transformation minister, said Asean had long discussed the APG. During his tenure as co-chair of the Energy Ministers’ Meeting in Vientiane last year, member states agreed to revisit the initiative and ensure the APG becomes a central focus moving forward.
He added that with the Philippines assuming the Asean chair next year, the hope is for the current MOU to evolve into a formal agreement, which would mark a significant step towards implementing the APG.
“The detailing part will involve each Asean country bringing feedback to their respective governments, where they will work out the specifics. From there, the working committee will engage with them to develop a unified agreement and a common standard for Asean,” Fadillah said.
Earlier in his speech, Fadillah said 2025 would be a pivotal turning point for Asean’s energy cooperation, marking the culmination of the Asean Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) Phase II 2021-2025, and the beginning of APAEC 2026-2030.
“As we prepare for this transition, we recognise the growing urgency to intensify efforts to accelerate the clean energy transition, enhance energy security, and expand access, especially in under-served communities across our region,” he added.
The Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry, in collaboration with the Asean Centre for Energy, will host the AEBF from October 15 to 17 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, as part of the 43rd Asean Energy Ministers’ Meeting.
The forum aims to strengthen regional cooperation and mobilise partnerships to accelerate the region’s energy transformation.
The AEBF marks a key milestone in Malaysia’s 2025 Asean chairmanship, which carries the overarching theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability”.
