As ASEAN intensifies efforts towards regional power integration and harnessing Southeast Asia's renewable energy potential, Singapore and the International Energy Agency (IEA) jointly organised the Singapore-IEA Regional Training Programme on Connecting ASEAN: Technical, Regulatory and Financial Pathways for Cross-Border Power Trade. This training programme equipped regional stakeholders with knowledge and tools to advance multilateral power trade and develop a more interconnected and resilient regional power grid.
In its ninth edition, the training programme brought together 200 participants including policymakers, regulators, and industry stakeholders from 20 countries to discuss the feasibility and benefits of regional power interconnections. Representatives from the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), as well as energy regulators from Australia, Malaysia and Thailand and key private sector stakeholders spoke at the event. They shared insights on developing technical frameworks, regulation, financing models and risk-sharing mechanisms to enable cross-border power transmission.
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said: "This annual regional training between the IEA and EMA reflects our shared commitment to advancing secure, sustainable and cost-effective energy systems in Southeast Asia. The IEA's Regional Cooperation Centre, which we have set up in Singapore, is playing a vital role in supporting countries of Southeast Asia meet their energy objectives, especially around regional integration of power systems and strengthening energy security."
Mr Puah Kok Keong, Chief Executive of the Energy Market Authority (EMA), said: "The ASEAN Power Grid vision is central to the development of a secure, sustainable and resilient energy future for the region. With the establishment of the IEA Regional Cooperation Centre in Singapore, we will work even more closely with the IEA to accelerate efforts to build regional capabilities to advance energy interconnectivity and multilateral power trade. This also builds on the existing work in ASEAN to develop a framework on subsea cable deployment."
This training programme is part of the Singapore-IEA Regional Training Hub. Singapore and the IEA will next co-host the Singapore-IEA Forum on 28 October 2025 at the 18th Singapore International Energy Week, held in conjunction with Singapore's 60th anniversary celebrations.
About the Energy Market Authority
The EMA is a statutory board under the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Through our work, we seek to build a clean energy future that is resilient, sustainable, and competitive. We aim to ensure a reliable and secure energy supply, promote effective competition in the energy market and develop a dynamic energy sector in Singapore.
About the International Energy Agency
The IEA is at the heart of global dialogue on energy, providing authoritative analysis, data, policy recommendations, and real-world solutions to help countries provide secure and sustainable energy for all.
