ASEAN-France Forum

• H.E. Stephen Marchisio, Ambassador of France to Singapore
• Sophie Mourlon, Director General for Energy and Climate, French Ministry for Energy

This session will explore the technical challenges and solutions required to ensure the stability of an interconnected power grid. This session will explore how greater regional interconnectivity can support a more stable and resilient power grid. Drawing on European lessons from Europe’s experience, the discussion will focus on the opportunities and challenges for ASEAN as countries work together to share resources and strengthen cooperation. The conversation will also examine how regional interconnections can accelerate the energy transition and support ASEAN’s decarbonisation goals. Key aspects include:

• Technical interoperability: ensuring compatibility across national grids and technologies to enable cross-border electricity trade.
• Operational stability: addressing real-time balancing, reliability, and resilience of a regional system.
• Policy and regulatory alignment: creating an enabling framework for reliable and sustainable power grid development.

Speakers:

• Faith Gan, Director of Energy Connections Office, Energy Market Authority of Singapore
• Beni Suryadi, Senior Manager of APAEC and Strategic Partnership, ASEAN Centre for Energy

This session will focus on how to mobilise the financing needed to turn ASEAN’s regional power grid ambitions into reality. The session will explore where the largest financing gaps lie, how regional and multilateral institutions can help bridge them and what innovative solutions can bring to the table. The session aims to highlight practical pathways to accelerate investment and build momentum for the ASEAN Power Grid. Key aspects include:

• Financing mechanisms: assessing current regional and multilateral financial instruments to support bankable projects.
• Innovative investments: exploring blended finance, risk-sharing instruments and public-private partnerships to overcome challenges.
• Policy and regulatory support: aligning frameworks to reduce investment risks and enhance cross-border project viability.

Speakers:

• Jackie Surtani, Regional Director, Asian Development Bank
• Jean-Pierre Marcelli, Regional Director for Southeast Asia, Agence Française de Développement(AFD)
• Janice Bong, Managing Director, Power and Renewables, Keppel Infrastructure
• Ganesh Padmanabhan, Head of Project Finance, Institutional Banking Group, DBS Bank
• Ovidiu Mic, Head of Sector Regional Cooperation and Investments Asia, European Commission

François Corbin, Special Envoy of the French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs for Economic Diplomacy