ASEAN Power Grid infographic (Source: EGAT)
Permanent Secretary of the Thai Energy Ministry Areepong Bhoocha-Oom was quoted as saying that the agreement is scheduled to be inked at the ASEAN Energy Ministers’ Meeting in Manila, the Philippines, on September 17-22.
Under the document, Laos will sell electricity to Malaysia, using Thailand’s transmission system, with the volume of up to 100MW.
The agreement will pave the way for the materialisation of an ASEAN power grid, which was first floated at an informal ASEAN summit in late 1997, he said.
He said he hopes that this power-grid integration by Thailand, Malaysia and Laos would encourage other ASEAN nations to head in the same direction.
According to him, there is a possibility of Thailand becoming an electricity-transmission hub in the region, because China has invested in many hydroelectric dams in Laos and Cambodia and has proposed Thailand provide transmission services.
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