In a landmark move towards bolstering regional energy cooperation, the Ministries of Trade and Industry of Singapore (MTI), Energy and Mines of Lao PDR (MEM), and Mines and Energy of Cambodia (MME) have joined forces to establish a working group. This group aims to facilitate cross-border electricity trade, with a focus on advancing the vision of the ASEAN Power Grid.
The objectives of the workgroup are threefold. Firstly, it will lay down a comprehensive framework to facilitate the development of cross-border electricity trading projects within ASEAN, commencing with the collaboration between Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Singapore.
Secondly, the group will streamline regulatory processes and licensing procedures pertaining to the generation, export, and import of electricity. It will also devise guiding principles and frameworks to streamline the application and permitting processes for subsea surveys and the installation of cross-border subsea power cables.
Lastly, the workgroup will explore avenues to facilitate commercial agreements and foster the development of generation and transmission infrastructure to enable seamless cross-border electricity trading among the three nations.
The inaugural meeting of the workgroup, co-chaired by Singapore’s Second Minister for Trade and Industry Dr. Tan See Leng, Lao PDR’s Vice-Minister for Energy and Mines Dr. Chansaveng Boungnong, and Cambodia’s Minister for Mines and Energy Keo Rottanak, was held today.
Dr. Tan expressed optimism, stating, “Through the work group, we hope to create a cooperation framework to facilitate cross-border electricity trade projects and coordinate subsea power cable issues in ASEAN. Singapore is pleased to work closely with Laos and Cambodia, with whom we share a vision for the ASEAN Power Grid. We also encourage more regional partners to join us in this endeavor.”
Minister Rottanak echoed this sentiment, saying, “We are delighted to collaborate with Singapore and Lao PDR to advance the ASEAN Power Grid. Our combined efforts to deepen regional energy integration and efficiently share clean energy set a strong example. We hope this partnership will encourage other ASEAN nations to join us in building a sustainable and interconnected energy network for the region.”
Vice-Minister Chansaveng emphasized the significance of the project for Lao PDR, stating, “This project is an important step for us to realize the goal of the ASEAN Power Grid, and we are excited to be an integral part of the regional goals for interconnection. Furthermore, it will create opportunities for Lao PDR to leverage its abundant resources in green renewable energy to assist the region in meeting its clean energy transition and net-zero goals. We hope this project will serve as a catalyst in promoting further investment in renewable energy in Lao PDR and the ASEAN Region.”
This collaborative effort signals a significant milestone in the journey towards regional energy integration and sustainable development within ASEAN.
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