A key milestone for advancing the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) was marked with the signing of two l financing agreements at the 3rd APG Stakeholders Meeting, held in Jakarta on the 3 December, 2025. This cooperation, involving the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), and the Southeast Asia Energy Transition Partnership is designed to accelerate APG development by focusing on both physical and regulatory requirements.
Photo Credits: ACE Communications Team
Two-Pronged Approach to APG Development
The agreements formalize the commitment of these key partners:
- AFD & ACE: This agreement, signed by Jean-Pierre Marcelli (AFD) and Dato’ Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood (ACE), directly funds feasibility studies for cross-border interconnection lines. ACE, as the secretariat of the APG, will implement this to continue the development mandated by the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC).
- AFD & ETP-UNOPS: This separate agreement, signed byJean-Pierre Marcelli (AFD) and ETP Director, Philip Timothy Rose (ETP-UNOPS), provides additional support to to ETP. This funding is dedicated to ETP’s ongoing project, the ‘ASEAN School of Regulation’.
Regulatory Support to Facilitate Cross-Border Trade
While physical infrastructure is essential, the operational success of the APG hinges on robust, harmonized regulations. The ASEAN School of Regulation is a joint initiative involving ETP, the ASEAN Secretariat, and UNESCAP. It has been endorsed by the ASEAN Energy Regulators’ Network (AERN) and is designed to be a sustainable institution dedicated to capacity building for regulators in the region.
Through the delivery of capacity-building support, the project will equip regional energy regulators with the specialized skills required to manage and facilitate complex cross-border power trade within the APG framework.
By establishing this dedicated institution, ETP is ensuring long-term technical support and knowledge transfer, moving beyond one-off training to build enduring regulatory expertise across ASEAN.
Advancing the Regional Energy Transition
The signing, witnessed by high-level officials including Director Luningning G. Baltazar as the Chair of APG Consultative Committee and H.E. Satvinder Singh (Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN), confirms the high priority placed on the APG. By simultaneously funding technical feasibility (ACE) and regulatory capacity building (ETP), the partners are ensuring the APG develops on a foundation that is both technically sound and institutionally prepared for a secure and sustainable regional energy future.
As a long-term donor, AFD’s additional contribution underscores our strong partnership and the trust placed in ETP. We are grateful for this support and remain committed to advancing the energy transition across Southeast Asia.
