The global shift towards decabonisation is no longer a distant aspiration but a pressing imperative. As the world grapples with the challenge of limiting global temperature rise to below 2°C, Southeast Asia has emerged as a key region in the fight against climate change.  

With a shared goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, the region is undertaking monumental efforts to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, embracing the energy transition with both urgency and ambition. The recent Enlit Asia 2024 conference held in Kuala Lumpur from 8 to 10 October, served as a potent reminder of both the challenges and opportunities inherent as countries advance their efforts.  

The conference’s theme, “Enabling a Multidimensional Energy Transition in ASEAN,” inspired by Malaysia’s National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), brought forward the region’s collective commitment to driving transformative change in the energy sector. Central to this effort are cross-border collaboration, technological innovation, and policy integration, all of which are essential to achieving ASEAN’s ambitious energy goals.  

As the host, Malaysia reinforced its leadership positioning this transition, with the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) and leading utility, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) playing pivotal roles. Enlit Asia 2024, supported by PETRA and TNB as the official ministry and utility partner, attracted more than 12,000 delegates from over 50 countries. The three-day summit presented a convergence of policymakers, industry leaders and technologist featuring a distinguished lineup of speakers such as Beni Suryadi, Deputy Executive Director, ASEAN Centre of Energy; Akhirio Ondo, CEO and Managing Director of Mitsubishi Power Asia Pacific; Dato’ Ir. Ts. Abdul Razib bin Dawood, CEO of Energy Commission Malaysia; Datuk Haji Sharbini Suhaili, Group CEO of Sarawak Energy; Datuk Ir. Megat Jalaluddin Megat Hassan, President and CEO of TNB; Mohd Zarihi Bin Mohd Hashim, Chief New Energy Officer (CNEO) of TNB; and Hasmarizal Bin Hassan, Chief Grid Officer of TNB, alongside other industry visionaries.  

Aside from tackling crucial topics such as digital transformation, energy storage, renewable energy integration, green financing, as well as hydrogen and ammonia technologies, the panel of experts provided insights into the region’s energy transition progress, while offering a sober assessment of the challenges that lie ahead.  

A focal point of the conference was the ASEAN Power Grid (APG), a key enabler of cross-border energy integration. In his opening remarks, YB Tuan Haji Akmal Nasrullah Bin Mohd Nasir, Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA), reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to championing the APG during the chairmanship of the ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) in 2025. 

“The APG offers a critical platform for accelerating the uptake of renewable energy throughout the ASEAN region, while ensuring energy security across borders,” he stated. Malaysia’s leadership in this initiative reflects its broader ambition to play a focal role in shaping ASEAN’s energy future, moving from a national transition strategy to a regional one.  

“The APG represents a strategic opportunity to democratise energy generation and distribution across member states, fostering shared benefits for all,”

In the plenary session titled “Shaping Regional Energy Transition – From Malaysia to Beyond”, leaders from across the energy landscape echoed the importance of collaboration. Datuk Ir. Megat Jalaluddin Megat Hassan, President and CEO of TNB, emphasised that ASEAN’s energy landscape offers a powerful platform for regional cooperation. “The APG represents a strategic opportunity to democratise energy generation and distribution across member states, fostering shared benefits for all,” he noted. Yet, he also highlighted the need for regulatory harmonisation to unlock the grid’s full potential, pointing out that each country operates within its own regulatory environment, which remains a barrier to seamless energy trade.  

Other industry leaders addressed the enduring tension between energy security, sustainability and affordability – named the energy trilemma. Dato’ Ir. Ts. Abdul Razib bin Dawood, CEO of Malaysia’s Energy Commission, acknowledged the challenges, while Ramesh Singaram, CEO and President of Asia, Gas Power at GE Vernova, took a broader view, reminding delegates that the energy industry is responsible for 40% of global CO2 emissions. His warning was tempered with hope, however, as he looked toward future generations. “The most pressing question they will ask us is: ‘Did we act fast enough? Did we do enough?’ This thought drives our mission to decarbonise and electrify the planet,” Singaram asserted. 

The discussions during Enlit Asia 2024 were not limited to immediate decarbonisation strategies. Several sessions examined longer-term potential emergent technologies such as hydrogen, ammonia and nuclear energy. These discussions illuminated how these innovations, if effectively integrated, could significantly accelerate Southeast Asia’s decarbonisation journey. Meanwhile, panels on green financing and grid modernisation explored the financial and infrastructural investments required to support this transition.  

The conference’s final day provided forward-looking perspectives with conversations on off-grid energy solutions, cross-border collaboration frameworks, and the low-carbon economy. These sessions provided actionable insights into how the region can bridge the gap between ambition and execution, offering in-depth strategies to address ASEAN’s unique energy challenges.  

As Enlit Asia 2024 drew to a close, the energy transition torch was symbolically passed to Bangkok, Thailand, where the 2025 edition will take place. The summit demonstrated the transformative potential of regional cooperation in tackling the dual challenges of energy security and decarbonisation.  

“ASEAN being so diverse, sharing is indeed a very powerful tool.” 

The conference underscored the need for ASEAN nations to work together, recognising the distinct energy landscapes within the region while fostering a shared vision for the future. Southeast Asia, with its diversity of resources and regulatory environments, is uniquely positioned to chart a path toward a resilient, sustainable, and equitable energy transition. As Narsingh Chaudhary, President (Asia Pacific and India) of Black & Veatch, eloquently concluded: “ASEAN being so diverse, sharing is indeed a very powerful tool.” 

In the coming years, the success of Southeast Asia’s energy transition will depend not only on the technologies it adopts but also on the partnerships it forges. The journey towards a net-zero future is long, but if ASEAN’s collective efforts at Enlit Asia 2024 are any indication, the region is ready to lead.