The Asian Dvelopment Bank (ADB) has planned to allocate up to USD10 billion towards the association of southeast asian nations (ASEAN) power grid (APG) initiative to expedite cross-border connections and national grid projects.
ADB has also programmed an additional USD27 billion in financing over the next three years to support the region’s energy transition and clean energy investments to boost energy security, enable power trade, and drive sustainable development across the region. ASEAN partners were assured that ADB could mobilise additional resources as needed. This ambitious project aims to create a unified regional energy network across 10 southeast asian countries. The project seeks to facilitate cross-border electricity trade, reduce costs, improve energy supply resilience, and accelerate the shift to clean energy sources. With the backing of the ADB and other international partners, implementation has gained momentum in recent years. Currently, there are 13 cross-border transmission lines with a combined capacity of 5.2 GW. Laos, which is rapidly expanding its hydroelectric power capacity, already exports electricity to Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. Additionally, Thailand and Malaysia maintain stable energy exchanges through bilateral agreements.