Indonesia’s chairmanship in ASEAN in 2023 in the energy sector focuses on “Achieving Sustainable Energy Security Through Connectivity” or achieving sustainable energy security through interconnectivity.
Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Rida Mulyana said that energy security is the key to driving the engine of economic growth in ASEAN countries. ASEAN has grown and become a leading region for global economic development and is projected to continue to grow for the next five years. The various and abundant energy sources in the ASEAN region must be utilized and synergized to meet the needs of this region.
Rida further said that interconnectivity among ASEAN countries will increase the use of new energy, reduce dependence on fossil energy, and create a low-carbon energy system that is reliable, sustainable, and affordable. Interconnectivity will also accelerate the clean energy transition and fulfill climate change mitigation action commitments in ASEAN countries.
“Interconnectivity among ASEAN countries is a crucial issue that Indonesia wants to convey in this year’s ASEAN Chair. ASEAN countries need to collaborate actively to prepare for multilateral energy trade. ASEAN Power Grid and Trans ASEAN Gas Pipeline are two initiatives that we are carrying out to realize this mission,” said Rida at the ASEAN Event Series: Preparation to Advance Multilateral Electricity Trading in The ASEAN Power Grid (APG) in Supporting Sustainable Energy Security Through Interconnectivity, in Jakarta, Wednesday (5/3).
Since the signing of the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the early 2000s, it is still certain that all ASEAN member countries will still benefit from a connected power grid. Indonesia also welcomed the extension of this MoU after 2024.
Progress in 2022, the electricity grids in Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore have been connected through the Lao PDR, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore Power Integration Project (LTMS-PIP), which has been proven to have increased the utilization of renewable energy sources and increased network resilience and stability electricity in the sub-region.
“This is a milestone for integration that is taking place in ASEAN. The Head of ASEAN Power Utilities/Authorities (HAPUA) plays an important role as a vital link to achieving this. HAPUA is the key to opening ASEAN’s flagship program, namely the ASEAN Power Grid (APG). With enthusiasm ‘No one left behind’ in the utilization of interconnectivity, we are encouraging the initiation of new interconnections in the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines (BIMP) subregion,” he added.
Indonesia expects continuous support from BIMP and HAPUA countries in implementing the new Intergovernmental Agreement on Multilateral Electricity Trade in the BIMP region.
“We hope that there will be a consensus between ASEAN member countries on the Joint Declaration of Sustainable Energy Security through Interconnectivity as a highlight of this Chair,” Rida concluded.
