Initiating Renewable Electricity Export Cooperation from Vietnam to Malaysia and Singapore

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, together with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, witnessed the signing ceremony of a development cooperation agreement among leading energy corporations from the three countries on the export of renewable electricity from Vietnam to Malaysia and Singapore (May 26, 2025, in Malaysia). Photo: VGP/Nhật Bắc.

This event marks a significant milestone in launching trilateral cooperation, reaffirming a shared commitment to advancing cross-border clean electricity trade. It also represents a pivotal step toward realizing the ASEAN Power Grid and strengthening regional energy connectivity in a more sustainable and resilient manner.

Under the agreement, the Malaysian side, through the Malaysia Energy Consortium (MYEC), comprising Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas), will collaborate with the Vietnam Petroleum Technical Services Corporation (PTSC), a member of the Vietnam National Industry - Energy Group (Petrovietnam - PVN), and Sembcorp Utilities Pte Ltd, a subsidiary of Sembcorp Industries (Singapore), to harness Vietnam’s offshore renewable energy potential.

Under the agreement, the parties will jointly conduct a feasibility study on exporting clean electricity from Vietnam to Malaysia and Singapore via a subsea transmission cable, which will be connected to Peninsular Malaysia’s national grid. The study will also evaluate the potential integration of complementary power sources and energy storage systems to ensure grid stability and reliability.

Following the agreement, the parties will engage with relevant regulatory authorities in each country throughout the project development process, gradually completing the necessary approval procedures to advance cross-border power grid interconnection and energy cooperation.

As planned, in the initial phase, the parties will collaborate to invest in the development of the TDA-02 project, with an expected capacity of over 2,000 MW, located in the South Central offshore region of Vietnam. In this project, Petronas will serve as a co-financier and provide technical consultancy on offshore wind power and regional transmission infrastructure.

Regarding the Singaporean partnership, the Vietnam–Singapore cross-border power grid cooperation began with an offshore renewable energy project in the waters of Ba Ria–Vung Tau province. This project, with a capacity of 2,300 MW, was initiated in early 2023 following the signing of a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) between the two sides during the official visit of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to Singapore. This initiative also serves as a pilot project under the auspices of the Government of Vietnam in the field of offshore wind power, contributing to the goals of greenhouse gas emissions reduction and enhancing national and regional energy security.

The project is being implemented through a partnership between PTSC and Sembcorp Utilities Pte. Ltd (SCU). In September 2024, PTSC and SCU awarded two survey contracts covering geophysical and geotechnical studies, as well as wind and hydrological measurements. The first package has been completed by the contractor, while the second package is currently underway and is expected to be completed on schedule.

The trilateral agreement marks a significant step forward in the development of cross-border green infrastructure, unlocking Vietnam’s renewable energy potential and paving the way for expanded renewable energy cooperation across Southeast Asia. It stands as a testament to the region’s efforts to accelerate energy integration and realize the ASEAN Power Grid.

As a member of ASEAN, Vietnam is advancing a strategic vision to become a regional hub for renewable energy, with a strong commitment to clean energy development, emissions reduction, and contributing to meeting Southeast Asia’s growing energy demand.

Through this trilateral cooperation, Vietnam aims to unlock new economic opportunities, promote green growth, and generate high-quality jobs, while reinforcing ASEAN’s collective commitment to a low-emission, sustainable energy ecosystem.

“This agreement highlights the role of PTSC in particular, and Petrovietnam (PVN) as a whole, in realizing energy transition strategies. It marks a significant milestone in renewable energy investment in Vietnam,” said Mr. Tran Ho Bac, General Director of PTSC.

Earlier, during a joint press conference on May 25 with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim commended the vision for ASEAN power grid cooperation. He emphasized that the subsea transmission line from Vietnam to Malaysia would be a massive project, serving as a testament to ASEAN’s success and the strong bilateral cooperation between the two countries. It will help materialize collaborative programs that are well aligned with both nations’ and the region’s energy transition and renewable energy development policies.