Malaysia, Vietnam and Singapore to begin undersea power transfer project
by AUFA MARDHIAH
MALAYSIA has formalised a new tripartite energy cooperation with Vietnam and Singapore to facilitate the supply of renewable energy through an undersea transmission system.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof (picture) said the agreement marks the beginning of a regional effort that will see power supplied from Vietnam to Malaysia and subsequently to Singapore.
'This is an exchange of documents, a sign of cooperation between Vietnam, Malaysia and Singapore. Firstly, to supply renewable energy from Vietnam to Malaysia and then to Singapore,' he told the press at the sideline of the 46th ASEAN Summit, after the Bilateral Meeting: Agreement Exchange Ceremony-Renewable and Interconnected Sustainable Energy (RISE).
The transmission will be carried out via an undersea cable and is underwritten by national energy firms Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) and Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB).
'The project is currently at an early stage, with detailed technical and commercial discussions to follow,' he added.
Fadillah added that the initiative will eventually be integrated into the ASEAN Power Grid — a regional network aimed at enhancing energy security and connectivity — which will involve both land-based and undersea components.
Meanwhile, TNB president and CEO Datuk Ir Megat Jalaluddin Megat Hassan said the cooperation represents a key step toward realising the vision of the ASEAN Power Grid by leveraging the region's potential in renewable energy generation.
'The next step for us is to go into the feasibility study and from there we will see the level and the depth of the ventures that we will be undertaking,' he said, noting that the study will start soon and will inform the public once any information is available.
He added that progress updates may be available by the time the ASEAN Energy Ministers Meeting is held in Kuala Lumpur this October.
In addition, Petronas president and group CEO Datuk Tengku Muhammad Taufik Tengku Aziz described the joint development agreement as a major milestone for all three countries, marking a new chapter in regional energy collaboration.
'This is a major success not just for Malaysia, but also for Vietnam and Singapore. It symbolises cooperation in an era of energy decarbonisation system and we are proud, as Petronas, to be working together with TNB, Sembcorp Industries Ltd (Sembcorp) and Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (Petrovietnam),' he said.
Sembcorp is a Singapore-based energy and urban development company. It is known for its investments in renewable energy (RE) projects across SouthEast Asia, including Vietnam and Malaysia.
Petrovietnam, Vietnam's state-owned oil and gas enterprise has increasingly expanded into RE initiatives alongside traditional hydrocarbon projects.
Tengku Taufik added that the initiative could act as a catalyst for the ASEAN Power Grid's broader rollout in the near future.
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