Photo 1. Group photo of panel speakers and ACE representatives at the APG Webinar 

The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), in partnership with ETP-UNOPS, GIZ’s Clean, Affordable and Secure Energy (CASE) for Southeast Asia, and UNESCAP as part of the APG Advancement Program (APG-AP) successfully hosted the webinar “Addressing the Challenges of Multilateral Power Trade for Sustainable Growth in the ASEAN Region” on 13 February 2025.

The two-hour webinar attracted over 180 participants from government agencies, financial institutions, private sector companies, and academia across the ASEAN region and beyond. The webinar facilitated a platform for energy stakeholders to discuss the key findings and recommendations specifically on the key technical, financial, and regulatory challenges in advancing multilateral power trade (MPT) under the programme area no.1, ASEAN Power Grid (APG) of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) Post-2025 to strengthen energy connectivity and security through expanded cross-border energy exchanges and power market development in ASEAN as output of the APG-AP Project. 

Photo 2. Opening remarks by Dato’ Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood, Executive Director of ACE 

The event commenced with opening remarks from Dato’ Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood, Executive Director of ACE who underscored the importance of MPT in supporting ASEAN’s sustainable energy transition. He highlighted the need for stronger regional cooperation, innovative financing mechanisms, and clear regulatory frameworks to ensure the successful implementation of advancement of APG program. 

Photo 3. Opening remarks by Asdirhyme bin Abdul Rasib, Undersecretary for Sustainable Energy Division of the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) Malaysia

This was followed by remarks from Asdirhyme bin Abdul Rasib, Undersecretary for Sustainable Energy Division of PETRA, who reaffirmed PETRA’s 2025 vision on “Powering ASEAN: Bridging Boundaries, Building Prosperity,” as a key theme in energy discussions which emphasised that APG is essential for regional energy cooperation, enabling energy prosperity, optimised resource use, increased renewable investments, and a more resilient, sustainable energy future. 

Photo 4. (Top-down) Co-presentation by Beni Suryadi, Head of PFS Department at ACE and Sascha Oppowa, Project Director of GIZ-CASE for Southeast Asia. 

The session began with presentation by Sascha Oppowa, Project Director of GIZ-CASE for Southeast Asia, and Beni Suryadi, Head of PFS Department at ACE, who provided insights into the technical and financial challenges of enabling multilateral power trade under APG. Sascha provided an overview of the APG-Advancement Program (APG-AP) as well as the key stakeholders involved and their roles in the APG-AP. Beni then delved into output 2 of the APG-AP, which focus on developing the roadmap of MPT in ASEAN. He emphasised the need for a stepwise roadmap to transition the APG from study to implementation with viable financing frameworks while highlighting ACE’s policy brief recommending harmonized REC standards, regional governance, and enhanced data transparency to support cross-border transactions and a robust multilateral power market. 

Photo 5. Panel discussion featuring Mohd Hafiz bin Jamalludin, Deputy Director of Electricity Industry & Market Development at Suruhanjaya Tenaga (top-left), Chairapee Liengboonlertchai, Chief of Renewable Energy and Digital Utility Business Development at EGAT (top-right), Nick James Arnett Wright, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Sarawak Energy (bottom-left) and moderated by Matthew Wittenstein, Chief of Energy Connectivity Section at UNESCAP (bottom-right). 

A panel discussion, moderated by Matthew Wittenstein, Chief of the Energy Connectivity Section at UNESCAP, brought together leading experts to share updates on countries initiatives to advance MPT within the region. Mohd Hafiz bin Jamalludin, Deputy Director of Electricity Industry & Market Development at Suruhanjaya Tenaga (Malaysia), presented Malaysia’s experience with open grid access initiatives (ENEGEM & CRESS) and the potential for scaling up regional power exchanges. Nick James Arnett Wright, Senior Vice President of Business Development at Sarawak Energy, discussed financing mechanisms and the bankability of cross-border interconnection projects under APG, emphasising the need for investment security and risk mitigation strategies. Chairapee Liengboonlertchai, Chief of Renewable Energy and Digital Utility Business Development at Electricity Generation Authority of Thailand (EGAT), shared Thailand’s progress in developing a national Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) market and its implications for cross-border power trade. The subsequent Q&A session, facilitated by Matthew Wittenstein engaged the audience with in-depth discussions on the environmental tagging of cross-border trade, financing strategies, and technical barriers to multilateral power exchanges. Panelists emphasized the need for standardised regional regulations, political commitment, and innovative business models to advance APG. 

The webinar concluded with closing remarks from Nadhilah Shani, Senior Research Analyst on Power at ACE, reiterated the importance of continuous collaboration among AMS and international partners. The insights from this session will contribute to shaping policies and frameworks for a more interconnected, secure, and sustainable ASEAN power market. This webinar reaffirmed ACE’s commitment to driving the development of APG and fostering regional energy integration, setting the foundation for long-term energy security and sustainability in ASEAN. 

Related link: https://youtu.be/kVI6Y6prRTs?si=xVCnCuYFTlg24YVL