Philippines plugs into Indonesian power link to shockproof energy supply
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The Philippines’ push to establish a cross-border grid with Indonesia highlights the growing urgency of securing energy supplies amid soaring electricity costs, marking another step towards a long-delayed regional power network.
Analysts hail the move as crucial for addressing domestic energy woes and unlocking mutual interests between neighbours, though they also point to geographical and supply-chain challenges.
Manila’s Department of Energy said last month that efforts were under way to establish links with Jakarta under the broader Asean Power Grid initiative, which aims to connect the power networks of Association of Southeast Asian Nations members and strengthen energy cooperation by 2045.
Such plans, which could see power routed from Indonesia to the southern Philippines, would require close coordination “either bilaterally with Indonesia or through a multilateral Asean forum”, Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella said.
As this year’s Asean chair, the Philippines has been at the forefront of efforts to advance the enhanced programme amid rising electricity demand across the region.
The energy crisis stemming from Hormuz had highlighted the mounting importance of the joint grid for Southeast Asia’s energy security, said Mirza Huda, a senior research fellow at the climate and sustainability programme at think tank ODI Global.
“Higher levels of regional energy cooperation can be a buffer against supply shocks caused by geopolitical crises such as the Iran war,” he said. “At the same time, greater regional integration can reduce the cost of the transition by sharing resources, improving grid reliability and making it easier to integrate solar and wind power.”
Source: Wikipedia