The Singapore Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry (METI), Energy Market Authority of Singapore (EMA) and the United States Department of Energy (DOE) are pleased to announce the preliminary findings from the second phase of the joint Feasibility Study on Regional Energy Connectivity in Southeast Asia.
Launched in October 2024, the second phase focuses on evaluating the legal and governance frameworks as well as financing approaches needed to facilitate greater regional energy interconnectivity and energy security in Southeast Asia. Singapore and the U.S. brought together policymakers, industry experts and researchers from the region, to exchange perspectives and best practices on cross-border electricity trading and regional grid development. The second phase builds upon the successful completion of the first phase, which examined the region’s grid infrastructure, including subsea interconnections, and the socio-economic benefits of regional energy interconnectivity.
DOE’s National Laboratory of the Rockies and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory will present key findings from the second phase at the 19th Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) on 28 October 2026, with the final report to be completed by early 2027. Preliminary findings highlight the need for stronger regional governance and cooperation, and greater alignment of legal and regulatory frameworks across ASEAN to support subsea interconnection development.
The study also identifies financing approaches to mobilize investment in subsea interconnection projects, including approaches to mitigate project risks, and regional cost allocation methods to support wider investment as part of the wider ASEAN Power Grid.
These findings will provide practical recommendations to support the development of the ASEAN Power Grid, including regional initiatives such as the ASEAN Submarine Power Cable Development Framework, and strengthen the ASEAN – U.S. energy cooperation under the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation (APAEC) 2026 –2030.
Building on the strong momentum of this joint study, Singapore and the U.S. look forward to deepening cooperation on regional energy interconnectivity, energy security, and energy technologies as we mark the 50th anniversary of the US-ASEAN relations in 2027.
Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry, Singapore
Energy Market Authority of Singapore
Department of Energy, United States
28 October 2026
