Premier Abang Johari calls for establishment of a common framework to accelerate Asean Power Grid

KUCHING, June 9, 2026 – Premier Abang Johari Openg has called for the establishment of a common framework to accelerate the implementation of the Asean Power Grid (APG), describing it as a crucial step toward strengthening regional energy security and advancing the clean energy transition.

Caption: Premier Abang Johari Openg (right) with moderator Nobuo Tanaka, director emeritus, International Energy Agency, at the visionary dialogue 

He noted that while the Asean Power Grid has long been discussed, the region still lacks a common platform and regulatory framework to facilitate cross-border energy trading and transmission.

“Asean must have a common platform to implement the power grid. Apparently, there is no framework at the moment,” he said.

He was speaking during a visionary dialogue titled “Empowering the Future – Delivering a Resilient Hydrogen Ecosystem” at the official launch of the Asia Pacific Green Hydrogen Conference and Exhibition (APGH) 2026 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today.

Drawing comparisons with the European Union, the premier said Asean could adopt existing models rather than creating entirely new mechanisms.

“We do not have to reinvent the wheel. We can study what happened in the European Union, where there is already a framework for member countries to share energy resources. Scandinavian countries, for example, transmit power through undersea cable interconnections,” he said.

Abang Johari emphasised that regional energy integration would enable Asean nations to optimise renewable energy resources, improve energy security and support decarbonisation efforts.

He highlighted Sarawak’s role in advancing regional power connectivity through the export of renewable electricity generated from its abundant hydropower resources.

According to him, Sarawak is already supplying electricity to Kalimantan in Indonesia and Sabah, while plans are underway to extend power exports to Brunei Darussalam and Singapore.

“We are sharing our electricity with our neighbour in Kalimantan. We are now sharing with our sister state of Sabah. Next will be Brunei, and we are negotiating to supply renewable energy to Singapore,” he said.

Abang Johari stressed that Sarawak’s energy strategy is based on sharing surplus renewable energy with neighbouring economies rather than operating in isolation.

“The leaders in Sarawak are not self-centric. We are sharing with our neighbours,” he said.

The premier said the development of renewable energy and hydrogen production are closely linked, with Sarawak leveraging its abundant water resources, hydropower capacity, natural gas reserves and extensive forest cover to support a low-carbon economy.

He explained that Sarawak began investing in hydrogen production through water electrolysis powered by renewable hydropower, positioning the state as a future producer of green hydrogen.

At the same time, Sarawak continues to expand its renewable electricity generation capacity, creating opportunities for greater regional energy trade under the Asean Power Grid initiative.

Abang Johari also underscored the importance of collective energy security, noting that no country can achieve long-term energy resilience alone.

“Energy security cannot be achieved in only one country. We need collective energy security,” he said.

He revealed that he had previously shared the concept of a regional energy framework with ASEAN member states while discussing the future of energy development, advocating stronger cooperation in power connectivity and renewable energy exchange.

The dialogue was moderated by Executive Director Emeritus of the International Energy Agency, Nobuo Tanaka, who described the Asean Power Grid as one of the most important initiatives for the region’s decarbonisation, electrification and energy security agenda.