KUCHING: The ASEAN Power Grid (APG) is an important foundation in driving the sustainable and resilient regional energy agenda for the future.

Deputy Prime Minister, Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof said the APG is not just an infrastructure project but a vision of a region where electricity flows without barriers across shared borders with the prosperity of one country uplifting the entire region.

By connecting national grids, he explained, ASEAN countries are currently building the foundation of a truly integrated ASEAN energy market.

"To fully realise the APG, it requires stronger political commitment, deeper technical cooperation and smarter investment strategies.

"We need to coordinate regulations, create open and transparent markets, and adopt digital innovations to make real-time regional energy trade a reality.

"We need to embrace not only physical components such as cables, substations and control systems, but also software elements such as governance frameworks, data sharing and mutual trust," he said.

He said this when speaking at the 43rd ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME) official dinner at a leading hotel here on Monday.

Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg was present to officiate the ceremony.

Dato Sri Fadillah added that the APG is built on the unique strengths in diversity in the region by leveraging on complementary geography and resources to build a greener, more inclusive and more secure future.

The Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation expressed confidence that the Enhanced APG Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) alongside the upcoming ASEAN Action Plan for Energy Cooperation 2026–2030 document will further strengthen ASEAN regional energy connectivity.

"This development will be a major catalyst for economic growth in all ASEAN member countries," he said. -UKASnews