TNB says domestic grid upgrades needed for Asean power links
The utility plans RM43 billion in capital expenditure between 2025 and 2027 to upgrade the National Grid.
Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) says Malaysia needs a stronger domestic transmission network before expanding electricity links with neighbouring countries under the Asean Power Grid (APG) initiative. Its head of grid development, Shamsul Bahari Saad, said internal upgrades were necessary to maintain grid stability.
Speaking at the Clean Energy Transition Asia 2026 summit in Kuala Lumpur, Shamsul said TNB had finished a 500kV line linking the north and south. Construction of another 500kV backbone connecting the east and south is under way.
Work began in August on the new National Grid Backbone, which is scheduled to be completed by 2030. TNB said in its Aug 28 statement that the system would cover approximately 500km and be Malaysia's longest at 500kV. It includes the PMU Kampung Awah substation in Maran, Pahang.
The project is intended to increase transmission capacity in Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan. TNB's wider grid modernisation programme includes planned capital expenditure of RM43 billion between 2025 and 2027, aimed at improving reliability, resilience and capacity.
The spending is also intended to support demand from data centres, industries driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and other digital infrastructure, alongside Malaysia's energy transition. On regional connectivity, Shamsul said TNB had established a joint working committee with Thailand and Singapore.
