Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) has inked strategic partnerships with the major energy players in Vietnam and Laos to boost its ongoing drive to strengthen the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) interconnectivity and advancing Malaysia’s aspiration of becoming the Renewable Energy (RE) hub for ASEAN.
These collaborations are set to accelerate regional decarbonisation efforts and cater to the increasing demand for cleaner, sustainable energy options.
These partnerships aim to enhance TNB’s RE portfolio and fast-track the expansion of TNB’s wholly owned subsidiary, TNB Power Generation Sdn Bhd (TNB Genco) and TNB’s New Energy Division into Southeast Asia.
The strategic collaborations were materialised through the signing of three Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs). The MoUs signed in Vietnam were between TNB Renewables Sdn Bhd (TRe) and Saigon Gia Dinh Electric Joint Stock Company (EHCMC) and between TNB Repair and Maintenance Sdn Bhd (TNB REMACO) and North Power Service Joint Stock Company (EVNNPS).
The signing was witnessed by Malaysia to Vietnam Ambassador, Dato’ Tan Yang Thai, showcasing the support of the Malaysian government for these initiatives. Similarly, the MoU signed in Laos between TNB’s wholly owned subsidiary TNB Genco and Electricite Du Laos (EDL) was overseen by Malaysia to Laos Ambassador, Edi Irwan Mahmud, further underscoring the regional significance of these collaborations.
In addition to these signings, TNB’s management also had the opportunity to meet with key government and industry figures. In Vietnam, the team met with the Minister of Industry and Trade, Nguyen Hong Dian, where an Expression of Interest was submitted for participating in Renewable and LNG projects in Vietnam. Moreover, fruitful discussions were held with CEO Tranh Dinh Nhan and representatives of Vietnam Electricity (EVN) on potential collaboration between TNB and EVN to address the energy transition agenda. The visit to Laos included a meeting with the Minister of Energy and Mines, Phoxay Sayasone, opening doors for further dialogue and cooperation.
TNB President and Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Indera Ir. Baharin Din said, “Our commitment in promoting RE and creating a sustainable future for Southeast Asia is unwavering. By combining our strengths and expertise, we will unlock the vast RE potential in Vietnam and Laos, driving economic growth and the broader energy transition.”
The TRe-EHCMC MoU is to explore potential renewable power generation technologies opportunities in Vietnam, while the TNB REMACO-EVNNPS MoU is for collaboration and cooperation for potential energy-related services works in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand.
Baharin said, “Through the MoU between TRe and EHCMC, we look forward to leveraging our combined strength and expertise that can unlock the vast RE potential in Vietnam. In TNB REMACO-EVNNPS collaboration, TNB is offering valuable services such as O&M and Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO).
Through the partnership with EDL, he said TNB is looking forward to strengthening cooperation by exploring investment opportunities in RE as well as exploring off-take opportunities through the Laos-Thailand-Malaysia Power Integration Project (LTM-PIP).
“TNB is ready to be Laos’ strategic partner, fostering growth and realising Laos as the ‘Battery of Southeast Asia’. This is also in line with TNB’s commitment to accelerate our Energy Transition plan and achieve Net-Zero by 2050. I am confident that this MOU will facilitate other areas of cooperation for partnerships and shared success. We thank EDL for this exciting opportunity.”
TNB, in its four initiatives to fast-track the Group’s sustainability agenda, is continuing its huge investment in the Grid of the Future, accelerating decarbonisation to increase the enterprise value of its power generation arm, TNB Genco; expanding focus markets to grow its RE portfolio; and focusing on electric vehicle ecosystem development.
Source: Asian News Today