The Indonesian government is pushing for enhanced connectivity in\nenergy infrastructure across eastern ASEAN to accelerate equitable\naccess to electricity, particularly in remote areas that still rely on\nhigh-cost gensets.<\/p>\n
This issue was raised at the Special BIMP-EAGA\n(Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area) Leaders\u2019\nSummit in Cebu, Philippines, on Thursday (7 May 2026) local time.<\/p>\n
Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Bahlil Lahadalia, who\naccompanied President Prabowo Subianto to the meeting, stated that\nregional energy infrastructure development must directly impact\ncommunities in underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) areas.<\/p>\n
According to him, there are still remote regions that lack reliable\nelectricity supply and depend on gensets, limiting economic activities\nand public services.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis meeting is an initiative for subregional economic cooperation\nestablished in 1994 to promote development in 3T areas for the four\nmember countries,\u201d Bahlil said in his official statement on Friday (8\nMay 2026).<\/p>\n
Bahlil noted that such steps are crucial to ensure border communities\nand remote islands gain better energy access, while also driving local\neconomic growth.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis synergy will strengthen collaboration so that people in remote\nareas can access affordable energy for improved welfare,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Through BIMP-EAGA cooperation, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral\nResources is optimistic that collaboration among the four member\ncountries can bolster regional energy infrastructure development.<\/p>\n
This is expected not only to secure each country\u2019s supply chains but\nalso to accelerate Southeast Asia as a resilient and sustainable\neconomic growth axis.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith that spirit, BIMP-EAGA must continue to evolve. BIMP-EAGA must\nbe more adaptive, more impactful, and more responsive to our\ncommunities\u2019 needs,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
The President also highlighted the importance of strengthening\nsubregional connectivity, including increasing the capacity of the Trans\nBorneo Power Grid to make energy distribution in the region more\nefficient.<\/p>\n
He stated that this agenda requires financing support, technical\nexpertise, and closer partnerships with regional development\npartners.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll this will not happen without the right support. We need to\nsecure funding, mobilise technical expertise, and deepen partnerships\nwith our regional advisors and development partners,\u201d Prabowo said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/remote-areas-still-rely-on-gensets-indonesia-pushes-for-asean-regional-electricity-interconnection-1778219584", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }