Senior energy officials from Southeast Asia have examined European cross-border electricity infrastructure during a study visit to France, the United Kingdom and Brussels, seeking
practical lessons to advance the ASEAN Power Grid and strengthen regional energy security.
The delegation, comprising government representatives, regulators and electricity utility officials from ASEAN Member States, completed the programme from 21 to 25 September. The initiative focused on how regional electricity networks can be developed, financed and operated through closer cooperation between countries.
Organised by the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), the French government through the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and the UK government in partnership with the European Union, the visit brought together representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat and the ASEAN Power Grid Consultative Committee.
The programme supports ASEAN-led efforts under the Enhanced Memorandum of Understanding on the ASEAN Power Grid and the ASEAN Submarine Power Cable Development Framework.
During the visit, participants explored European approaches to cross-border electricity connections, including regulatory arrangements, infrastructure planning, investment models and coordination between national energy systems. They met with regulators, system operators, financiers and industry specialists involved in developing and managing interconnected power networks.
A key part of the programme involved visits to major energy infrastructure facilities. In France, the delegation toured Nexans' high-voltage facilities in Calais, while in the United Kingdom, officials visited National Grid's Daedalus Converter Station in Hampshire to learn about the operation of the Interconnexion France-Angleterre 2 (IFA2), the subsea electricity link connecting Britain and France.
UK Ambassador to ASEAN Helen Fazey said the initiative demonstrated that successful regional energy integration depends on more than the construction of physical infrastructure. Effective partnerships, reliable institutions and cooperation among governments, regulators, utilities and businesses are equally important.
She reaffirmed the UK's commitment to sharing its experience with ASEAN while respecting the region's priorities and its responsibility for shaping its own energy future.
ASEAN Centre for Energy Executive Director Dato Razib Dawood described the regional grid as a major example of ASEAN cooperation, with the potential to improve energy security and enable countries to make better use of renewable energy resources. He said European experience could provide valuable lessons as Southeast Asian nations pursue closer electricity integration.
France also highlighted the strategic importance of the initiative. French Ambassador to ASEAN Fabien Penone said the ASEAN Power Grid could contribute to energy sovereignty, industrial competitiveness and access to cleaner, more affordable and reliable electricity. He added that France and AFD were ready to support the region by drawing on their technical expertise and experience in energy infrastructure development.
AFD's Head of Department for Europe, the Middle East and Asia, Cyrille Bellier, stressed that turning the regional grid into reality would require substantial investment, carefully prepared projects and appropriate regulatory frameworks. He said France and its European partners could help bridge ASEAN's regional objectives with the priorities of individual member states, building on decades of French engagement in Southeast Asia.
Financing emerged as one of the central issues during the discussions. Cross-border transmission infrastructure requires significant upfront investment, often involves complex political and regulatory considerations, and generates returns over extended periods. Delegates therefore examined how greater regulatory certainty, effective risk-sharing arrangements, stronger project preparation and reliable coordination mechanisms could encourage long-term investment.
The discussions also explored the practical challenges of operating interconnected electricity systems and the importance of aligning national policies and technical standards across borders.
While European experience offers useful examples, participants considered how these approaches could be adapted to ASEAN's own institutional structures, energy markets and development priorities.
The study visit underscored the importance of sustained cooperation among governments, utilities, development institutions, investors and private-sector companies. As ASEAN advances its regional electricity connectivity agenda, the lessons drawn from European projects are expected to inform efforts to build a more integrated, resilient and sustainable energy system across Southeast Asia.
