Malaysia's TNB proposes partnership with Vietnam's EVN in connecting regional power grids

TNB, Malaysia's largest utility, has proposed Vietnam's state-owned utility EVN to cooperate in building a power transmission network connecting countries, including a line between Malaysia and Vietnam, via land and sea.

Datuk Ir. Megat Jalaluddin Megat Hassan, president and CEO of TNB, presented the proposal at a meeting with Nguyen Anh Tuan, general director of EVN, in Hanoi on Wednesday.

TNB is a publicly-listed company with the Malaysian government holding the majority stake, while EVN is a wholly state-owned group.

At the meeting, the leader of TNB briefed about the company's operations and strategic directions for the coming period.

Accordingly, TNB aims to reduce gas emissions by 35% by 2035 and become carbon neutral by 2050. To realize this goal, the utility has identified two main focuses: digitalizing operations and decarbonizing the entire power generation process.

Datuk Ir. Megat Jalaluddin Megat Hassan noted that Malaysia is implementing a 1,000 MW central solar power project and a 2,500 MW floating solar power project. Meanwhile, thermal power plants are gradually switching from using coal to natural gas for emission reduction and environmental protection.

The TNB leader expressed his desire to strengthen cooperation with power companies in ASEAN to jointly develop clean power sources, apply environmentally friendly technologies, and build a power transmission network connecting countries, including a line between Malaysia and Vietnam via land and sea.

In response, the EVN leader emphasized the similarities between the two companies in terms of functions, scope of operations, as well as the challenges they are facing.

Currently, Vietnam's national power system has a total capacity of about 84,000 MW, of which EVN accounts for about 38.5%.

In the context of the government setting a target of double-digit GDP growth in the period of 2026-2030, Vietnam's electricity consumption is expected to increase sharply, posing an urgent task for EVN in ensuring a stable electricity supply.

Meanwhile, renewable energy being developed rapidly is a new context, Tuan highlighted.

"EVN is investing in power transmission infrastructure to make it increasingly synchronous and modern. The utility is also conducting cross-border electricity trading with Cambodia, Laos, and China," he added.

The EVN general director noted he agreed that it is necessary to enhance bilateral cooperation to share experience and successfully complete the tasks assigned by the two governments.

He said he hopes that after this working session, the two sides will organize in-depth technical exchanges to discuss cooperation contents, moving towards signing an MoU and contributing to the sustainable development of the electricity industries of Vietnam, Malaysia and ASEAN.