Photo 1. Group Photo of High-Level Consultative Meeting between ACE and EAV on APG-related projects in Hanoi, Vietnam
On September 18, 2025, the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) successfully held a High-Level Consultative Meeting with the Electricity Authority of Vietnam (EAV) at the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) Head Office in Hanoi, Vietnam. The meeting itself was led by Dato’ Razib Dawood, the Executive Director of ACE, with the attendance of the Deputy Director General of EAV, Nguyen The Huu as the Senior Officer on Energy (SOE) Leader of Vietnam.
The purpose of the meeting is to follow up on the implementation activities of the APG Project Preparation Facility (PPF) and to discuss priority cross-border interconnection projects under the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) to better align with national energy policies and plans. Additionally, through this meeting ACE formally extended a formal invitation to EAV to participate in a workshop for subsea interconnection which will be held in Manila.
ACE opened the discussion by outlining its organisational structure and reaffirming its mandate to support cross-border interconnection initiatives through its Power Generation and Interconnection Department. EAV provided updates about their recent energy transition progress and its COP26 commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Vietnam has been leading the solar power uptake in ASEAN with installed capacity of 17 GW, almost double the combined total of other ASEAN countries. Moreover, Vietnam has finalized key policies and planning through the Revised Power Development Plan VIII, the National Energy Master Plan, regulations and policies for renewable energy development and energy pricing frameworks.
In regard to the advancement of APG, Vietnam expressed the importance of a transparent and comprehensive legal and policy framework establishment, especially between the interconnecting countries. Thus, it is crucial that feasibility studies should be aimed at assessing and developing technical standards and operational protocols.
It was also agreed that such reinforcement measures (including load flow studies, technical modelling, and possible HVDC integration) could be incorporated into broader financing proposals, potentially under existing World Bank. EAV expressed their recommendations for studies to reinforce grid interconnection for cross-border electricity trade with neighbouring countries such as with Lao PDR and Cambodia. Both parties agreed to maintain coordination at the technical level in the interim, including through engagements with the National Electricity System and Market Operation Company Limited (NSMO) and their upcoming visits to PLN and ACE offices in Jakarta.
Additionally, ACE extended a formal invitation to EAV to participate in the Subsea Interconnection Workshop, scheduled for 7–9 October in Manila, highlighting regulatory frameworks, cable configuration challenges, environmental and safety compliance, and critical supply chain constraints, particularly, the increasing lead times for subsea cable manufacturing, now estimated at 5-7 years. EAV expressed interest not only in the workshop but also in broader capacity-building cooperation, proposing the possibility of country-dedicated workshops, study visits, or expert exchanges focused on subsea feasibility, HVDC technology, and system modelling.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to open communication and continued engagement, noting that further discussions could also take place on the sidelines of upcoming regional energy platforms. As a way forward, ACE reiterated its readiness to provide strong and continuous support in coordinating with multilateral financiers and technical partners.
