Expanded ASEAN Power Grid pilot project to be launched in coming months

NONG KHAI, THAILAND, December 13 (TNA) - The state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has announced that a regional power link between Lao PDR, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand will be launched in the near future as part of an expanded pilot project under the ASEAN Power Grid initiative. EGAT Governor Viboon Rerksirathai told journalists on Thursday at a ceremony in Nong Khai Province in the Thai Northeast, marking the 50th anniversary of the "energy link" between Lao PDR and Thailand, that the expanded quadruple pilot project of the ASEAN Power Grid initiative was agreed at the 36th ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting and Associated Meetings (36th AMEM), held in Singapore in October 2018. Viboon said that the pilot project of the ASEAN Power Grid initiative, which was first launched in January 2018, was earlier joined by Lao PDR, Malaysia and Thailand, under which Malaysia has purchased hydro-power at the maximum of 100 megawatts from Lao PDR through Thailand's cross-border power transmission system. The EGAT governor stated that under the expanded quadruple pilot project of the ASEAN Power Grid initiative, the maximum purchase of the hydro-power from Lao PDR by Malaysia and Singapore will be increased to 300 megawatts through the cross-border power transmission systems in Thailand and Malaysia. According to the EGAT governor, the expanded quadruple pilot project is a concrete and major step forward of the ASEAN Power Grid initiative, aimed to develop and sustain energy security and independence, as well as economic growth and prosperity of the 10-member ASEAN bloc. (TNA)