RECCESSARY’s “ASEAN Weekly” highlights Southeast Asia’s new energy and carbon market updates. (Image: RECCESSARY)
This week in ASEAN, energy resilience and corporate renewable energy investments took center stage. A 7.8-magnitude earthquake in the Philippines caused widespread outages in the south, prompting the government to assess the resilience of power facilities. Meanwhile, Foxconn and Brookfield announced plans to develop 1 GW of renewable energy capacity in Vietnam, targeting DPPAs to accelerate supply chain decarbonization. Below are ASEAN’s key stories from June 8–14.
Philippines’ 7.8-magnitude earthquake causes outages, prompts energy ministry to assess facilities
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck off the southern Philippine island of Mindanao on Monday, causing power outages, damaging transmission infrastructure, and prompting tsunami warnings across parts of the region.
Several transmission lines in southwestern Mindanao were affected by the quake, according to the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP). The earthquake was centered near Maasim in Sarangani Province and was felt across neighboring provinces, including General Santos City and Polomolok in South Cotabato. Read more here
The Philippine island of Mindanao was hit by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake, causing power outages. (Photo: Philippine Red Cross)
Foxconn, Brookfield to develop 1 GW renewables in Vietnam to cut supply chain emissions
Following Samsung’s landmark direct power purchase agreement (DPPA) in Vietnam, Foxconn on June 9 announced a strategic partnership with Canadian investment firm Brookfield to co-develop 1 GW of renewable energy capacity in the country.
The portfolio will be paired with long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) to supply green electricity to Foxconn’s operations and its broader supply chain. Read more here
WHA expands into Thailand data centers, urges grid upgrades for renewables
Thailand’s leading industrial estate developer WHA Group is expanding into data center parks, as it seeks to capture rising demand from foreign technology firms. Chief Executive Officer Pajongwit Pongsivapai said the company is currently conducting a feasibility study, targeting international clients. He also urged the government to strengthen power grid infrastructure to enable greater integration of renewable energy.
Separately, Singapore-based data center operator ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC) has warned that Thailand’s data center growth will significantly boost demand for green electricity. Read more here
Malaysia to require malls to install recycling facilities as landfill pressure grows
Malaysia will require shopping malls nationwide to install recycling facilities as a condition for obtaining business licenses, bringing recycling infrastructure into everyday consumer spaces. The decision, approved by the Cabinet on June 5, is expected to affect more than 1,000 shopping malls across the country by the end of the year.
The policy comes as Malaysia continues to grapple with rising waste volumes. The country generates more than 39,000 tonnes of solid waste per day, and despite achieving a national recycling rate of 35%, more than 80% of waste is still disposed of in landfills. Read more here
Malaysia plans to require shopping malls nationwide to install recycling facilities as part of a broader effort to reduce landfill dependence. (Photo: Pavilion Kuala Lumpur)
In the age of the digital grid, who will govern Cambodia’s power data?
In early April, Cambodia broke ground on its first gigawatt-scale pumped-storage hydropower project, developed in Koh Kong province as a key project in China-Cambodia “production capacity cooperation”, notes Xinhua.
With this project, Cambodia will soon have the flexible storage capacity it needs to balance a grid increasingly powered by solar and wind, and a credible offer to regional electricity markets that have been watching the country’s renewable transition with growing interest. But a pressing question remains unanswered: as Cambodia’s power system becomes more digitally sophisticated, who will govern the data that keeps it running? Read more here
Vietnam pushes 1 GW Laos wind project as power demand surge drives import growth
Vietnam’s electricity demand is rising rapidly. In late March, daily power consumption surpassed 1 billion kWh for the first time. As industrial expansion and decarbonization goals place growing pressure on the country’s power system, cross-border electricity imports are emerging as an increasingly important part of Vietnam’s energy strategy.
Vietnamese infrastructure developer Fecon and Danish renewable energy investor Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) have proposed jointly developing a 1 GW onshore wind farm in Laos, with the electricity transmitted to Vietnam. Read more here
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