KOTA KINABALU: ASEAN should study the European Union’s power interconnection framework as a model to develop a regional electricity grid, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Abang Johari noted that the bloc currently lacks a formal multilateral framework for power collaboration.
He said the EU’s experience, including cross-border electricity supply among Nordic countries via undersea cables, offers valuable lessons that ASEAN can adapt rather than starting from scratch.
“I did suggest that they look at the European Union interconnection of power. We don’t have to reinvent; we can look at that collaboration in Europe as a model for ASEAN,” he told reporters after officiating the ‘Energisation of the Sarawak-Sabah Power Grid Interconnection Project’ held at the Sabah International Convention Centre here on Saturday (Jan 24).
He added that the approach would help address legislative and national considerations across member states.
Abang Johari said he shared Sarawak’s views where he highlighted the absence of a structured collaboration framework among ASEAN’s 11 member countries.
“At the moment, there isn’t any framework of collaboration among the 11 member countries. That is why ASEAN must have such a model,” he said.
He said Sarawak and Sabah’s electricity interconnection serves as an initial trigger towards building the Borneo Power Grid, which could later expand into a wider ASEAN Power Grid.
“Now Sarawak and Sabah already have this interconnection, which is something to start, to trigger off. We also already have an interconnection with Kalimantan,” he said.
Abang Johari said Sarawak has also agreed to supply electricity to Brunei, forming the core of the Borneo grid, while plans are in place to extend power connectivity from Sabah and Sarawak to the southern Philippines.
“In addition, we have agreed to supply power to Singapore. When you look at this together with power from Laos going through Terengganu towards Singapore, you can see the ASEAN Power Grid taking shape,” he said.
However, he stressed that most current arrangements are still bilateral, underscoring the need for a multilateral framework involving all ASEAN member countries.
“This is bilateral, not multilateral. You have to have a multilateral framework among the 11 member countries. At least we start with the Borneo grid,” he said.
On Sarawak’s energy capacity, Abang Johari said the state is fortunate to have abundant power resources, including renewable energy and low-carbon sources such as gas-based combined-cycle gas turbines.
He said Sarawak is developing a 500-megawatt power plant in Miri and a 1,000-megawatt facility in Bintulu.
“By 2030, our installed capacity will reach 10,000 megawatts, or 10 gigawatts, which can be the basis of power supply for us to share within Borneo,” he said.
