Photo 1. (Left to right) Dato’
Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood, Executive
Director of ACE, Datuk Ir. Abdul Nasser bin Abdul Wahid,
CEO of
Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS), and Datuk Ir. Ts. Mohd Yaakob Haji Jaafa, CEO of Sabah Electricity.
On 2 April, the High-Level
Consultative Meeting (HLCM) between the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS), and Sabah Electricity was convened at the ECoS Headquarters in Kota
Kinabalu, Sabah. The meeting brought together Dato’ Ir. Ts. Razib Dawood, Executive Director of ACE, Datuk Ir. Abdul Nasser bin Abdul Wahid, Chief Executive Officer of ECoS, and Datuk Ir. Ts. Mohd Yaakob Haji Jaafar, CEO of Sabah Electricity.
The session mainly focused on introducing the
potential collaboration with Sabah related to ASEAN Power Grid
Project Preparation Facility (APG PPF) platform, upcoming APG-related
activities in 2026, as well as recent developments in the regional energy
situation. The HLCM is also attended by the representatives of Heads of ASEAN
Power Utilities/Authorities (HAPUA) Secretariat to ensure the activity’s
alignment with the APG milestones in 2026.
In the discussion, ACE shared its ongoing work in monitoring APG and energy developments across ASEAN. The current global energy crisis was highlighted as a key concern, particularly due to ASEAN’s reliance on imported fossil fuels and exposure to global supply disruptions. These updates are typically circulated to the Member States. During the meeting, it was noted that Sabah, given its position within Malaysia and its relevance to cross-border interconnections, could benefit from more direct inclusion in these information -sharing processes.
Photo 2. Group photo of the High-Level Consultative Meeting (HLCM)
The discussion also touched upon Sabah’s power
development context, including its focus on gas development for power
generation and the need to balance energy security with environmental
considerations. Opportunities related to renewable energy, green attributes,
and potential interconnection with neighboring systems such as Kalimantan were
also discussed.
The meeting also reaffirmed the importance of
collaboration in moving APG-related projects forward, especially at the
preparation stage. Strengthening coordination, improving information sharing,
and keeping relevant stakeholders involved were seen as key to ensuring that
project development can progress more smoothly. In this regard, ACE provided an
overview of the secured grant opportunities for APG developments, and the
upcoming APG-related activities in 2026. As a commitment to advancing APG, ACE
also introduced the APG
Financing Initiative (APGF), a platform with an objective of addressing
financing barriers by coordinating support from development and commercial
financial institutions. ACE, in this capacity, serves the role of APG
Secretariat to facilitate communication and coordination among relevant
stakeholders.
Both parties concluded the meeting in strong
agreement on the necessity of ongoing coordination to collectively address the
challenges inherent in advancing regional power interconnection. Looking ahead,
ACE reaffirmed its role as a committed partner in facilitating follow-up
discussions, engaging key stakeholders, and supporting the continued
development of the APG in close collaboration with power utilities and
governments across the region.
