RECCESSARY’s “ASEAN Weekly” highlights Southeast Asia’s new energy and carbon market updates. (Image: RECCESSARY)
This week in ASEAN, Singapore advanced plans to import 900 MW of renewable power from Malaysia, with two projects receiving conditional approval. Meanwhile, Thailand is considering financial guarantees and higher power tariffs for data center developers to safeguard power supplies. Below are ASEAN’s key energy and sustainability stories from Aug. 10–16.
Singapore advances 900 MW of renewable power imports from Malaysia
Singapore’s Energy Market Authority (EMA) on Aug. 7 granted conditional approvals to Sembcorp Industries and Malaysian developer Southern Solar Alliance to import renewable electricity from Malaysia. If the two projects proceed as planned, they are expected to begin commercial operations in 2029 and supply a combined 900 MW of renewable power to Singapore. Read more here
Malaysia approves renewable projects worth $1 billion, unveils 10-year efficiency plan
Malaysia launched a new 10-year energy efficiency plan on Aug. 11 while announcing the results of its latest renewable energy feed-in tariff (FiT) round. A total of 41 biogas, biomass and small hydropower projects, with a combined capacity of 331.335 MW, were approved.
The projects are expected to attract RM4.3 billion (about USD 1.05 billion) in investment, with the earliest projects scheduled to begin supplying power to the grid in 2029. Read more here
Malaysia’s Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir unveils the country’s updated National Energy Efficiency Action Plan at a sustainability event. (Photo: ISES 2026)
Thailand weighs financial guarantees, higher power tariffs for data center developers
Data centers are notorious power guzzlers, but they are also a priority industry for Thailand. Seeking to strike a balance, the country’s Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) is considering requiring developers to post a guarantee and pay higher electricity tariffs to safeguard power supplies and prevent the sector’s rapid expansion from driving up household electricity bills
The new rules are expected to take effect in the fourth quarter, signaling Thailand’s shift from pursuing scale to prioritizing the quality of investment. Read more here
Nickel expansion puts Indonesia’s biodiversity goals under pressure, study finds
Indonesia’s nickel boom is colliding with its efforts to protect biodiversity and reduce emissions from forests and other land uses. A new study warns that meeting growing global nickel demand could increasingly put some of the world’s most important ecosystems at risk.
A study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution focuses on the trade-offs between meeting future nickel demand and protecting areas important for biodiversity and carbon storage. The researchers found that 44% to 49% of projected nickel demand between 2025 and 2050 could be met by mines located in the world’s top 10% of terrestrial areas for biodiversity and carbon conservation. Read more here
One shock too many: Why Southeast Asia’s El Niño response must be different
Southeast Asia is no stranger to strong El Niños. Most ASEAN member states (AMS) have implemented various practices to mitigate the effects of the global climate phenomenon: early-warning systems, risk communications, water conservation plans, changes to planting calendars, war rooms, fire-risk monitoring, emergency plans and introducing buffer stocks.
The upcoming “super” El Niño may “rank among the largest” and will be stacked on top of other disruptions. ASEAN countries will need to brace themselves and prepare accordingly. Read more here
Carbon crossroads: Petrochemicals boom tests Indonesia’s climate goals
In July 2025, the Indonesian government inked an investment deal worth nearly USD 6 billion with PT Taikun Petro Chemical. This China-backed consortium has been established to build a refinery and petrochemicals complex in North Kalimantan province, on the island of Borneo.
The petrochemicals industry is among the most carbon-intensive on earth. Such large-scale petrochemical investments could therefore increase Indonesia’s emissions and prolong its dependence on fossil fuels, potentially complicating the national commitment to reach net zero by 2060. Read more here
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