Government coordination key to Asean grid expansion, says Tenaga chief
Companies in Johor are planning up to 900MW of solar capacity for export to Singapore, while Malaysia has yet to finalise trading terms.
Governments need to coordinate more closely to advance the Asean Power Grid while accommodating national priorities, Tenaga Nasional Bhd president and chief executive officer Datuk Shamsul Ahmad said at Singapore International Energy Week 2026.
Shamsul said preliminary technical work was under way to examine differences in electricity-system rules and standards across Asean, with a view to harmonising them. Stronger cooperation between governments would help expand existing cross-border arrangements, he said.
He cited electricity passing through Malaysia from Laos to Singapore, Sarawak’s electricity exports to Indonesia and Malaysia’s power trading with Thailand as examples of existing links.
Multilateral trading began in 2022 through the Laos-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore Power Integration Project, which provided for 100MW of hydropower to reach Singapore from Laos.
Demand for regional connections differs by country. Singapore is seeking gigawatts of low-carbon power, while Laos wants export markets for its hydropower capacity. Vietnam needs additional generation sources alongside domestic renewable energy to meet electricity demand that is growing faster than average.
In Malaysia, companies are pursuing solar projects to serve Singapore, although the government has not finalised the terms. Plans in Johor envisage as much as 900MW of solar capacity for export ahead of any changes to Energy Exchange Malaysia (ENEGEM), the country’s renewable-energy cross-border trading platform.
