Kuala Lumpur, 15 October 2025: ERIA, in collaboration with Malaysia’s Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) and supported by the Economic Research Institute Network (ERIN), co-hosted the 8th East Asia Energy Forum (EAEF) as one of the plenary sessions of the ASEAN Energy Business Forum 2025 (AEBF 2025).

Serving as a strategic platform for regional dialogue on energy integration and sustainability, this year’s forum was held under the them ’Towards Regional Inclusivity and Sustainability through the ASEAN Power Grid (APG).’ The event gathered policymakers, industry leaders, and academics from across ASEAN and East Asia to explore actionable pathways for advancing regional power connectivity.

The forum opened with remarks by Dr Nuki Agya Utama, Director for Energy Policy and Head of the Asia Zero Emission Center at ERIA, followed by a welcoming address by H.E. YB Tuan Haji Akmal Nasrullah bin Mohd Nasir, Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, Malaysia.

Setting the tone for the discussions, Dr Weerawat Chantanakome of ERIA underscored the critical role of the APG as a cornerstone of the region’s clean energy transition and economic integration. The APG aims to interconnect national power systems across ASEAN, enabling the sharing of renewable resources, enhancing energy security, and promoting inclusive regional growth.

The panel discussion, titled ’Exploring Pathways for APG Market Integration and Shaping Policies to Catalyse Investment’ featured presentations and discussions moderated by Mr Ichiro Kutani, Senior Research Director at the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ).

The distinguished panel included:

• Dr Peerapat Vithayasrichareon, Senior Energy Analyst – Power and System Integration, International Energy Agency (IEA)
• Mr Sho Hayashi, Policy Fellow on Energy Transition and Finance, ERIA
• Dr Han Phoumin, Senior Energy Economist, ERIA
• Dr Chen Shiun, Senior Vice President for Strategy and Corporate Development, Sarawak Energy (Malaysia)

Panelists explored the opportunities and challenges in advancing APG development, including market mechanisms, regulatory harmonisation, and investment frameworks to facilitate cross-border electricity trade.

Concluding the session, participants reaffirmed the APG’s importance as a transformative platform for regional collaboration and energy transition. Insights from the Forum are expected to inform ongoing policy dialogues and collective efforts toward building a sustainable, interconnected, and equitable regional power system across ASEAN and East Asia.