Power grid interconnections gaining headway

Within ASEAN region

Interconnections of power grids have been an advancing pathway for the ASEAN region, although the Philippines is still far from joining that integration because of its very archipelagic geographic make-up.

As host to this year’s 35th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM), the Philippines witnessed the deal signing of Lao PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore Power Integration Project, that shall enable Malaysia’s purchase of up to 100 megawatts from Laos via Thailand’s transmission grid.

So far, this agreement dubbed as the Electricity Purchase Wheeling Agreement (EWPA) has been the first multilateral electricity transaction in ASEAN, anchored on the goal of “advancing electricity trade” under the ASEAN Power Grid paradigm.

As noted, this is a concretized physical energy infrastructure project within the propounded blueprint of ASEAN connectivity.

While not yet feasible to be connected with the power grids of ASEAN neighbors, Philippine Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi, who is the minister-host in this year’s AMEM, has shifted his pitch into inviting energy investments in the Philippines and for the region, particularly power projects in his own country as it is still recurrently saddled with the dilemma of power supply tightening.

He asked participant-investors in the event “to help fund the many energy-related undertakings of the member-states of ASEAN.”

Given that the region is now gaining traction in the global economic arena, Cusi stressed that “ASEAN is the right place for you to invest in.”

He expounded “there are great energy plans, but these are plans that will cost money. Thus, it is imperative to draw in more investments. Additionally, with a disaster-vulnerable country hosting this year’s AMEM, the focus of deliberations had delved with resiliency and sustainability of energy infrastructure facilities as well as the regional connectivity of these very critical assets.

The energy ministers tackled various issues and concerns of the energy sector that each member-country addresses on their own; and also those that they would have to attend to as ‘connected region’ of the world.

Cusi’s hope is for a “dynamic and robust collaboration within ASEAN and dialogue partners, as well as international agencies.”

Beyond ASEAN, it is worth noting that the region is also in commune with dialogue partners Japan, China South Korea and India and the larger global core, which include the United States, Australia, Canada, Middle Eastern Countries and the European Union.