In a landmark stride toward regional decarbonization, leading energy companies from Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam have signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to explore the export of renewable electricity from Vietnam to Malaysia and Singapore. Signed during the ASEAN Summit, the agreement represents a decisive step in the realization of the ASEAN Power Grid and a blueprint for future energy cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The tri-nation pact brings together Malaysia’s Malaysian Energy Consortium (MYEC)—a strategic alliance between Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS)—Vietnam’s Petrovietnam Technical Services Corporation (PTSC), and Singapore’s Sembcorp Utilities Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of Sembcorp Industries.
At the heart of the collaboration is Vietnam’s immense offshore wind capacity, which the partners aim to harness to supply clean power across borders. The proposed solution envisions a high-capacity submarine transmission cable linking Vietnam to Peninsular Malaysia, with potential expansion to Singapore in later phases.
The JDA outlines joint feasibility studies that will examine technical and economic viability, focusing on grid interconnection, subsea transmission, and the integration of advanced energy storage systems to ensure consistent and reliable power delivery. Development will proceed in alignment with national energy authorities and policy frameworks across all three nations.
“This tripartite partnership lays the foundation for a regional green energy highway,” said MYEC leaders Datuk Ir. Megat Jalaluddin Megat Hassan (TNB CEO) and Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik (PETRONAS CEO) in a joint statement. “It supports our shared vision to establish Malaysia as a key electricity transit hub for the ASEAN Power Grid.”
Vietnam, which has identified offshore wind as a core pillar of its energy future, views the agreement as both a milestone and a catalyst. “This marks a new era of renewable investment and affirms PTSC’s commitment to leading Vietnam’s energy transition,” said Tran Ho Bac, General Director of PTSC.
For Singapore, which has committed to importing 6GW of low-carbon electricity by 2035, the alliance advances both energy diversification and sustainability targets. “This partnership strengthens Singapore’s energy security and reinforces our role as a hub for regional clean energy trade,” noted Wong Kim Yin, Group CEO of Sembcorp Industries.
With Malaysia poised to assume the ASEAN Chair in 2025, its stewardship of this initiative underscores the bloc’s growing focus on collaborative climate action. More than a feasibility study, the JDA represents a bold vision—an integrated, cross-border renewable energy ecosystem that could serve as a global exemplar for multilateral clean energy cooperation.
As Southeast Asia navigates the dual imperatives of growth and sustainability, this trilateral alliance signals not just progress—but possibility.
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