ACE Supports the Strengthening of ASEAN Inter-utility Cooperation through the HAPUA Strategic Dialogue

Photo 2. Dr. Thongsavanh Keokhoungning (right), Deputy Managing Director of Electricité du Laos (EDL), delivering the opening remarks as the current Chair of HAPUA

The meeting was opened by an opening remark from Dr. Thongsavanh Keokhoungning, Deputy Managing Director of Electricité du Laos (EDL), as the current Chair of HAPUA. During his remark, he briefly shared the changing energy landscape in ASEAN, which draws the need to address the challenges and opportunities associated with it, and how HAPUA could be best positioned to accommodate the changes. On behalf of HAPUA, Dr. Thongsavanh expressed his gratitude towards TNB for hosting such important dialogue and Australian Mission to ASEAN, through Aus4ASEAN Futures, for making the dialogue possible.

Photo 3. Hot Martua Bakara (second from the right) of PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), delivering his welcoming remarks as the alternate HAPUA Secretary-in-Charge

During his opening remarks, Hot Martua Bakara, Senior Finance Specialist of PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), as the Alternate HAPUA Secretary-in-Charge, briefed the meeting on the background, objectives and expected outcomes of discussion, highlighting the importance of the strategic dialogue in shaping the future of HAPUA. He also reiterated Dr. Thongsavanh’s message of how the dialogue is timely for HAPUA members to reflect upon HAPUA’s integral role amidst the ongoing regional trends and sectoral transformation. 

Photo 4. Abdul Rahim bin Abd Jamil of Tenaga Nasional Berhad (left) and Kathleen Bombell of Australian Mission to ASEAN (right) opening the session with their welcoming remarks

Abdul Rahim bin Abd Jamil, Head (International Regulations & Relations) of Regulatory & Stakeholders Management Division at Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), as the representative from the host country, continued the session by welcoming the HAPUA members of all nations, while reminding them to keep an engaging and ASEAN cooperation spirit throughout the discussion. The opening was also attended virtually by Kathleen Bombell, Development Counsellor of Australia Mission to ASEAN, who expressed its unwavering readiness to support in advancing ASEAN energy cooperation through HAPUA, on behalf of Australia.

Photo 5. Nadhilah Shani (left) and Dynta Trishana Munardy (right) of ACE, set the context and support HAPUA Secretariat to facilitate the dialogue

Throughout the first day, HAPUA members showed active engagement on the topics being presented. During the discussion on the vision of HAPUA, the members envisaged HAPUA as a strategic coordination platform for power utilities in ASEAN, where members could leverage the platform for capacity building and the platform could be leveraged to bridge policy into implementation. The participants discussed and successfully identified the needs, priorities, and the emerging strategic priorities for HAPUA, which includes energy security and resilience, sustainability, digitalisation, electricity markets, and human capital development, along with the changes that are required to support the priorities. As the outcome, the discussion further strengthened HAPUA’s position as an enabling platform to ensure greater energy security, through regional cooperation in ASEAN, especially through the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) initiative.

Photo 6. Crisanto Valeriano Hilario of the National Power Corporation of the Philippines (NAPOCOR) (left) and Sherman Toh of SP Group (right) during the discussion on HAPUA structure

In addressing the changes, HAPUA members continued the session by reflecting upon the current institutional structure and roles of HAPUA. The exercise reflected upon the structural transformation of HAPUA throughout the years, the working groups, and the roles of each HAPUA institutional component (e.g., HAPUA Council, HAPUA Secretariat, HAPUA Working Committee). Through the exercise, HAPUA members successfully identified the proposed improvements towards the current organisation of HAPUA, which includes a clear alignment between HAPUA activities and the ongoing APG Task Force Workplan based on APG Enhanced MOU and facilitation of ASEAN power system projects implementation – including the APG priority interconnection projects. Additionally, the session ended by optimising best practices sharing within the platform, particularly on the emerging strategic priorities. Overall, the discussion effectively drew the gaps of the current structure of HAPUA and shaped the improvement needs to accommodate the emerging priorities and visions of HAPUA.

Photo 7. Hjh. Izwaliani Haji Zulkarnain of Department of Electrical Services (DES) Brunei Darussalam (left) and Jakgree Sirimaneewattana of Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) (right), during the discussion on the proposed enhancement for HAPUA

The discussion on the second day carried over the key takeaways from the first day by detailing the required action items from HAPUA to fulfil the enhancement needs. Each representative agreed to align the HAPUA vision with the overall ASEAN energy cooperation agenda, for a more efficient and effective organisation of HAPUA activities. Moreover, the meeting agreed that it was necessary to enhance the clarity of objectives, roles, responsibilities, and structure of HAPUA by revisiting HAPUA’s foundational inter-utility cooperation agreement. 

All in all, the strategic dialogue provided a timely platform for HAPUA Members to discuss the vision of cooperation under HAPUA and ultimately propose structural and technical enhancements for HAPUA as an ASEAN sectoral energy body. From the strategic dialogue, a shared understanding of current regional energy trends and cooperations was built, emerging strategic priorities were identified, and a shared vision for the future of HAPUA was established. With this aligned vision, a strengthened cooperation is expected to be formed under HAPUA, paving the foundation for HAPUA’s involvement in the operationalisation of APG Enhanced MOU and the fulfilment of APAEC targets.