KUALA LUMPUR: Tenaga Nasional Bhd
(TNB) is scaling up energy access through cross-border partnerships with key 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.
In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, TNB said the 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.
President and chief executive officer Datuk Baharin Din said TNB’s 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,” he said.
As such, TNB has inked three strategic partnerships with the major energy players in Vietnam and Laos, which are set to accelerate regional decarbonisation efforts and cater to the increasing demand for cleaner, sustainable energy options.
The memorandums of understanding (MoUs) signed in Vietnam were between TNB Renewables Sdn Bhd (TRe) and Saigon Gia Dinh Electric Joint Stock Company (EHCMC) (TRe-EHCMC MoU); and between TNB Repair and Maintenance Sdn Bhd (TNB REMACO) and North Power Service Joint Stock Company (EVNNPS) (TNB REMACO-EVNNPS MoU).
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.
"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 operation and maintenance (O&M) and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO),” said Baharin.
Similarly, Bahrin said the MoU signed in Laos was between TNB’s wholly owned subsidiary TNB Genco and Electricite Du Laos (EDL) is to strengthen cooperation by exploring investment opportunities in RE as well as exploring off-take opportunities through the Laos-Thailand Malaysia Power Integration Project (LTM-PIP).
He said TNB is ready to be Laos’ strategic partner, fostering growth and realising Laos as the ‘Battery of Southeast Asia’, in line with TNB’s commitment to accelerate its energy transition plan and achieve net-zero by 2050.
In addition to these signings, TNB also had the opportunity to meet with key government and industry figures.
In Vietnam, TNB 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 chief executive officer Tranh Dinh Nhan and representatives of Vietnam Electricity (EVN) on potential collaboration between TNB and EVN to address the energy transition agenda,” he said.
Meanwhile, the visit to Laos included a meeting with the Minister of Energy and Mines Phoxay Sayasone, which has opened doors for further dialogue and cooperation. - Bernama
