In a joint statement, the ministers congratulated all parties on the “successful implementation of multilateral and multidirectional cross-border power trade,” which now allows electricity to flow from Laos to Singapore via Thailand and Malaysia, as well as from Malaysia to Singapore.

This development effectively doubles the project’s total power trade capacity to 200MW, strengthening its role as a cornerstone of the Asean Power Grid vision.

Launched in 2022, the LTMS-PIP began as a pilot project transmitting up to 100MW of electricity from hydropower plants in Laos to Singapore through existing interconnections in Thailand and Malaysia.

It is the first multilateral power trade initiative involving four Asean nations.

With multidirectional trade now in place, the project demonstrates the feasibility of cross-border electricity exchange in enhancing regional energy security and grid resilience.

The ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to expanding multilateral power trade, highlighting its potential to accelerate Asean’s energy transition and unlock the region’s renewable energy potential.

They commended the ongoing efforts of the LTMS-PIP Working Group and stakeholders in monitoring technical, legal, and regulatory aspects to ensure smooth implementation.

The ministers reiterated that the LTMS-PIP serves as a “pathfinder” project for the Asean Power Grid – a long-term initiative aimed at interconnecting the region’s power systems to meet rising electricity demand and promote energy sustainability.