JAKARTA, Aug 25 — Four power companies of Asean countries are discussing opportunities for interconnected systems to achieve energy security and energy transition targets and reduce emissions.
“The Asean energy tagline contains the three energy pillars of sustainability, security, and interconnectivity. These pillars represent our main challenge in accelerating energy connectivity to achieve sustainable Asean growth,” Indonesian Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Arifin Tasrif said in a statement.
Arifin made the statement at the 41st Asean Ministers on Energy Meeting in Bali yesterday.
The minister said the focus of the talks was to create an interconnected electricity system. If there is a surfeit supply of electricity in an area, it can be redistributed to other low-power areas.
“To realise this, we will increase interconnectivity through the Trans-Asean Gas Pipeline (TAGP) and the Asean Power Grid (APG) for sustainable Asean energy,” Arifin said.
The four Asean power companies that attended the 2023 meeting were Indonesia’s Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), Malaysia’s Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), Laos’ Electricite du Laos, and Thailand’s Electricity Generating Authority.
Indonesia and Malaysia have made aggressive moves to connect Kalimantan’s system with Sabah.
Meanwhile, TNB president and chief executive officer Datuk Baharin Din said the electricity interconnection system is an investment opportunity for the future.
Baharin said although it requires a large budget, it can be a profitable opportunity for all countries.
— Bernama
