Malaysia Hopes For Major Breakthrough On LTMS-PIP At 33rd Some

KOTA KINABALU (Sabah, Malaysia), May 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysia hopes to see some major breakthrough in discussions on the Lao, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore Power Integration Project (LTMS-PIP) at the ongoing 33rd ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting (33rd SOME) on Energy and Associated Meetings here. However, Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Dr Maximus Ongkili said participating countries of the pilot project on cross border power trade need to stabilise their existing power grid before exporting energy to other countries in need. "We need to have proper grid within our countries first before we can export to each other within the ASEAN belt. "Malaysia is monitoring the ASEAN Power Grid closely as we are in the centre of the ASEAN belt," he said at a SOME dinner here on Wednesday. Ongkili also called on participating countries of the LTMS-PIP to follow-up to ensure the project was a success. He said the successful implementation of the project would enhance economic activities in the countries concerned and contribute to greater investment for the entire ASEAN region. The Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water (KeTTHA), headed by its Secretary-General Loo Took Gee, is chairing the five-day 33rd SOME and Associated Meetings here until Saturday. Meetings and consultations would also be held with dialogue partners like the United States, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia, as well as, the International Energy Agency. The 33rd SOME meeting, this time around, will also give priority to discussions on the first phase of the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (2016-2025). -- BERNAMA