From December 9 to 13, 2024, the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) and the Korea Electrical Safety Corporation (KESCO) co-hosted a series of Integrated On-Site Consultation Workshops focused on enhancing electrical safety management at renewable energy facilities. The sessions were conducted sequentially in Jakarta, Indonesia (December 9-10) and Phnom Penh, Cambodia (December 12-13). These workshops drew on KESCO’s expertise in electrical safety to boost safety practices across renewable energy sectors in both countries. Attended by government officials, public utility representatives, and industry experts, the events provided a platform for discussions on regulations, technological advancements, and collaborative strategies to improve safety standards across the ASEAN region.

The first leg of On-Site Consultation Workshop on Electrical Safety Managements for NRE Facilities was held in Jakarta, Indonesia. The workshop commenced with opening remarks from Tony Susandy, Deputy Director for Various New and Renewable Energy at Indonesia’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, and Doddy B. Pangaribuan, Executive Vice President HSSE of PT PLN (Persero), alongside Hwang Hojun, Vice President of KESCO. Monika Merdekawati, Senior Research Analyst of ACE, served as the Master of Ceremony and Moderator throughout this workshop. During the opening remarks, the speakers emphasised the importance of robust electrical safety measures to ensure high-quality renewable energy installations and expressed optimism for future collaborations to advance safety standards, supporting Indonesia’s energy transition goals.

Photo 1. Participants of the Integrated On-Site Consultation Workshop in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 9 December 2024

Photo 2. (Left-Right) Opening remarks from, Doddy B. Pangaribuan, Executive Vice President HSSE of PT PLN (Persero), Hwang Hojun, Vice President of KESCO, and Tony Susandy, Deputy Director for Various New and Renewable Energy of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) Indonesia

Photo 3. (Left-Right) Wildan Fujiansah, Sub Coordinator of Electrical Technical Feasibility at the Directorate General of Electricity, and Andhy Dharma Setyawan, Vice President K3 at PT PLN (Persero), delivering a presentation

The workshop in Indonesia also featured a visit to the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) office, where participants explored the renewable energy initiatives that are currently being developed in BRIN and discussed potential collaboration opportunities on safety management technologies. Cuk Supriyadi Ali Nandar, Head of the Energy and Manufacturing Research Organization at BRIN, emphasised BRIN’s role as Indonesia’s unified research agency advancing energy, nuclear technology, manufacturing, and nanomaterials through four research groups. He highlighted BRIN’s commitment to domestic and international collaboration and expressed hope for strengthened cooperation with KESCO, ensuring mutual benefits while respecting local values.

The session then proceeded by the presentation and tour to each research groups in the Research Organization for Energy and Manufacture of the National Research and Innovation Agency, which included the current on-going research on green hydrogen, microgrid, and smart electrical systems. The brief research profile presentation and tour was led by the Principal Researchers from each Research Group, Abdul Hamid Budiman, Principal Researcher of the Fuel Cell System and Hydrogen Production Research Group, Dr. Kholid Akhmad, M.Eng, Principal Researcher of the Microgrid Research Group, and Dr. Ir. Andhika Prastawa, M.S.EE, Principal Researcher of the Smart Electrical Systems Research Group. The visit highlighted shared interests in testing, inspections, and education, with BRIN and KESCO exploring opportunities for collaboration, particularly in photovoltaic standards testing and the use of IoT and other RE management systems to ensure safety efforts.

Photo 4. (Left-Right) Cuk Supriyadi Ali Nandar, Head of the Energy and Manufacturing Research Organization at BRIN and Hwang Hojun, Vice President of KESCO

Photo 5. Participants at BRIN KST BJ Habibie Research Center

Photo 6. Participants visiting BRIN’s Fuel Cell System and Hydrogen Laboratorium, Smart Micro Grid 700kWp Laboratorium, and PV testing Laboratorium

The workshop series continued in Phnom Penh, Cambodia with remarks from H.E. Chhe Lidin, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Mines and Energy Cambodia, alongside Hwang Hojun, Vice President of KESCO. Through his opening speech, H.E. Chhe Lidin emphasised the importance of collaboration between the related agencies to develop robust safety standards for solar and wind energy, while Hwang expressed his hope for strengthened partnerships between Cambodia and KESCO.

Photo 7. Cambodia and KESCO Representatives on Integrated On-Site Consultation Workshop in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 12 December 2024

Photo 8. (Left-Right) Opening remarks from Hwang Hojun, Vice President of KESCO and H.E. Chhe Lidin, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Mines and Energy Cambodia

In the first session, Hor Bona, Vice Chief of Office at the Department of Technique and Energy Business Policy of the Ministry of Mines and Energy Cambodia, outlined Cambodia’s power sector progress, including the 2022–2040 masterplan to transition to renewable energy, with 62% of grid capacity derived from renewables by 2024. Dr. Nhet Ra, Representative from Electricite du Cambodge (EDC), discussed challenges such as aging infrastructure and inconsistent regulations while highlighting opportunities in smart metering and further development of electrical safety standardisation and regulations to support the integration of renewable energy systems.

Photo 9. (Left-Right) Hor Bona, Vice Chief of Office at the Department of Technique and Energy Business Policy the Ministry of Mine and Energy Cambodia and Dr. Nhet Ra, Representative from Electricite du Cambodge (EDC)  giving presentation on Introduction on Cambodia’s Safety Management System and Standards for NRE Facilities

On 13 December 2024, participants visited the 60 MWac. They engaged with the representatives from the Solar Farm Owner, Kang Sopheak, Country Manager of the Prime Road Power, to learn about Health, Environmental, Safety, and Security (HESS) protocols and discussed best practices and safety challenges from the experience in the Cambodia National Solar Park. The visit also reviewed Cambodia’s progress in developing safety standards and identified areas for further improvement.

Photo 10. Participants at Cambodia National Solar Park

Photo 11. Participants visit the Cambodia National Solar Park

Photo 12. Zahrah Zafira, Associate Research Analyst of SRE Dept. at ACE, giving presentation on the Status Quo and Overview of Electrical Safety Management System and Standard in ASEAN Countries

Photo 13. KESCO presenting Korea’s Electrical Safety Management Law and Introduction of KESCO. Oh Dongmin, Team Manager from KESCO (top-left) ,  Lee Yooyeol, Head of Department from KESCO (top-right), Kim Jinseok, Team Manager from KESCO (bottom-left) and Kang Taegu, Professor from KESCO (bottom-right)

The workshops concluded with a reinforced commitment to integrating advanced safety practices and achieving a sustainable and secure renewable energy future in ASEAN. This series of workshops marks a significant step in fostering international cooperation and building technical capacities for safer renewable energy operations across the region.