Building the ASEAN Power Grid Means Building Institutions

Photo: East Asia Forum

In this article published by East Asia Forum, Dr. Renard Siew explores explore why building a truly integrated regional grid is less about electrons and more about rules, trust, and coordination. The ASEAN Power Grid has long been envisioned as a pathway to more resilient, affordable, and cleaner energy across Southeast Asia but without aligned market frameworks, dispute resolution mechanisms, and credible governance, physical connectivity alone probably won’t deliver system-level transformation.

Summary:

Amid rising electricity demand, growing exposure to fossil fuel supply disruptions and the increasingly urgent imperative to decarbonise, the ASEAN Power Grid holds the promise of a more integrated, resilient and affordable energy system for Southeast Asia. But achieving this requires more than technical coordination. It requires governments to cede control to enable regulatory alignment and cross-border governance architecture, devise innovative financing strategies and establish transparent, predictable frameworks that encourage private investment.