Malaysia shifts from coal to a mix of solar, gas and electricity
Malaysia will shift away from coal and focus on solar power, said the CEO of the state utility Tenaga Nasional on Wednesday. He added that using renewable sources would keep costs low. Southeast Asia's 35 million-strong nation has increased its coal-fired fleet in order to lower electricity costs. However, it plans to increase the use of solar and natural gas - with the latter being cheaper but the former more flexible. Solar is cheaper per unit than coal and gas. In an interview, Megat Jalaluddin, CEO of TNB said that the best option is to have a mix that will address affordability.
Blueleaf Energy India Plans to Receive $75 Million from UK Development Finance Body
British International Investment, the UK's Development Finance Institution, announced on Wednesday that it would invest 75 million dollars to help Blueleaf Energy expand in India, a renewable energy platform owned by Macquarie Asset Management. The funds are intended to speed up the deployment of clean energy in Asia. The investment is to be made into Blueleaf’s utility-scale projects for solar, wind and energy storage in India. It will generate more than 3.2 gigawatt hours (GWh) per year of clean energy. The investment is in line with BII’s broader strategy of accelerating the energy transition for emerging markets.
Enphase Energy's forecast for the fourth quarter revenue is below expectations, signaling a tariff increase
Enphase Energy's fourth-quarter revenue was below Wall Street expectations on Tuesday. The company also said that U.S. president Donald Trump's tariffs negatively affected its margins. Shares of the solar inverter manufacturer fell over 8% following hours. The tariffs are expected to have a negative impact on the company's margins in the current quarter. Enphase said on a call after earnings that it expected limited exposure to recent China-related duties as the company's supplies chain is moving away from China. Enphase pays tariffs of over 40% on cell packs imported from China. U.S.
Trade executives say that global LNG demand will rise as new supplies lower prices.
Trading executives at the Asia Gas Markets Conference on Tuesday said that global liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), demand will rebound due to new supply entering the markets, which is expected to drive prices down and spur the interest of price-sensitive buyers. Mohammad Arif is the head of LNG Asia Pacific at Uniper. He said that demand would gradually develop, with prices under $7-8 per million British Thermal Units (mmBtu). Asian spot LNG is currently priced at $11.20/mmBtu. Benjamin Comninos is the director of trading portfolio optimization for Cheniere. He said that markets like China, India, and Southeast Asia could see a recovery in demand.
Singapore's power demand expected to increase in the next decade
The chief executive of Singapore's Energy Market Authority, who spoke on Monday, said that the expansion of advanced manufacturing and technology in Singapore, as well as the electrification of cars, will increase the growth of power demand in the next decade. EMA CEO Puah Kok Keong said that electricity consumption would grow between 2% to 5% by 2035. This compares with an average increase of 1.9% in the 10 years up until 2024. Singapore's power consumption is growing faster than that of its regional neighbours Australia or Japan, even though they are among the highest energy consumers per capita in the world.
Minister: Indonesia will introduce bioethanol blend gasoline as a mandatory requirement in 2027
Indonesia will impose a 10% bioethanol content requirement for gasoline by 2027 as part of its efforts to reduce its dependence on fuel imports, said its Energy Minister. Southeast Asia aims to increase the use of palm oil and sugarcane biofuels to become energy self-sufficient. But ethanol supply issues have delayed the country's plans to mandate bioethanol in gasoline. Bahlil lahadalia, the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of Indonesia, estimated that Indonesia will need 1.4 millions kilolitres to meet the 10% gasoline blend mandate. He told reporters that he planned to get all of the ethanol on domestic markets.
Malaysia: Multilateral power deal delayed due to Thai politics; renewal expected next month
Malaysia's Energy Minister said that Thailand has postponed the renewal of a multilateral power trading agreement in Southeast Asia due to changes in local politics. The Lao PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore (LTMS) Project to supply hydropower from Laos via Thailand and neighbouring Malaysia is now expected to be renewed in November, Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Fadillah Yusof told . The Constitutional Court removed Thailand's prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in August. Anutin Charnvirakul was appointed to the position the following month.
Philippines to Increase Renewable Power Generation as Demand Surges
Philippines expects higher gas-fired and renewable power generation to fuel a projected 6.6% growth in power demand over the next two years, helping reduce dependence on coal, its energy secretary said on Friday.The country will continue to boost gas use for power generation and plans to add more gas-fired capacity to address rising demand, its energy secretary Sharon Garin told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of the ASEAN energy ministers meeting."The one thing that constrains that is the supply chain of gas. There are no turbines available…
Philippines boosts gas-powered and renewable capacity to meet surge in demand
The Philippines' energy secretary stated on Friday that it expects increased gas-fired power generation and renewable energy to help fuel a projected 6,6% growth in demand for power over the next two year, reducing dependence on coal. In an interview conducted on the sidelines the ASEAN Energy Ministers Meeting, the country's energy secretary Sharon Garin said that the country would continue to increase gas usage for power generation. It also plans to add additional gas-fired capability to meet the rising demand. The gas supply chain is the main constraint. She added that there are no turbines.
Malaysia: Multilateral power deal delayed due to Thai politics; renewal expected next month
Malaysia's Energy Minister said that Thailand has postponed the renewal of a multilateral power trading agreement in Southeast Asia due to changes in local politics. The Lao PDR-Thailand-Malaysia-Singapore (LTMS) Project to supply hydropower from Laos via Thailand and neighbouring Malaysia is now expected to be renewed in November, Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Fadillah Yusof told . The Constitutional Court removed Thailand's prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in August. Anutin Charnvirakul was appointed the following month.
East Timor is expecting construction of the first large solar power plant to begin next year
East Timor's state utility chair said that construction on its first large-scale solar power plant will begin in 2026, and it should be operational a few months later. This will help the country reduce expensive diesel imports. Itochu Corp. of Japan and Electricite de France will develop a 72-megawatt photovoltaic power plant in Manatuto and a battery energy storage system of 36-MW. They will also supply electricity to Electricidade de Timor-Leste under a contract lasting 25 years. EDTL Chairman Marito Fereira said that the solar plant would help Southeast Asia’s poorest nation – also known as Timor-Leste – reduce its fiscal burden and cut down on expensive diesel imports…
Indonesia targets B50 biodiesel by the second half of 2026
The mining minister announced on Thursday that Indonesia would implement its B50 Biodiesel Programme in the second half 2026. He added that the plan may eliminate the need for the country to import diesel in the next few years. The largest palm oil producer in the world has launched a biofuel program that blends palm oils with diesel. This reduces the reliance on imported fuel. The program is currently in the B40 phase, which uses 40% palm oil fuel. It was not clear when the B50 program would be implemented. He said that the country expects a drop in diesel fuel imports of nearly 40% from 2024 to 4.9 miliolitres.
Indonesia regrets EU's decision to appeal WTO biodiesel ruling
The Indonesian Trade Ministry on Thursday called on the European Union (EU) to accept the World Trade Organization panel's ruling on removing countervailing duty on Indonesian imports of biodiesel and regretted that the bloc had appealed the WTO decision. Last week, the European Union announced that it would appeal the WTO panel's ruling, which supported Jakarta's claim, that the duties levied on EU palm oil products as the EU is the third largest destination of Indonesian palm oils products violated the rules of the trade body. The EU's decision not to appeal the Dispute Panel DS618 ruling is irrelevant, Trade Minister Budi Santitoso stated in a press release.
Sources say that Sriwijaya Capital raised over $200 million in its debut fund and is aiming for a $300 million cap.
Sriwijaya Capital is a Southeast Asia focused private equity firm that has raised over $200 million in its debut fund. It aims to reach a $300,000,000 hard cap in six to twelve months, according to two sources with knowledge of this matter. Sources said that the Singapore-based and Jakarta-based company plans to acquire strategic minority or majorities stakes in Southeast Asian businesses with regional expansion potential. This includes companies facing succession issues or family-run business seeking to become professional. They said that the first deal would likely involve an Indonesian firm in the next few months. As the matter is confidential, we have not named the person.
EnQuest UK sticks to production forecast despite first-half losses
EnQuest, an oil company based in the North Sea, stuck to its production forecast for the full year on Wednesday. It was encouraged by its operational strengths despite reporting that it had a loss after tax of $1.25 million due to lower production and higher taxes. As with its peers, the company is struggling to deal with Britain's extended tax on windfall profits for oil and gas producers. The tax rate has been raised to 78% - one of the highest rates in the world - which has attracted criticism from many industry players. Amjad Bseisu, CEO of EnQuest, said in a press release that the company is committed to continuing investment in its UK business.
Russell: The Big Three Asian thermal coal producers look healthy while others are pale
Asia dominates global thermal coal markets, but the future looks increasingly divided between the robust domestic markets of the three heavyweights China, India and Indonesia as well as a slowly fading seaborne industry. In recent years, the three countries have increased their coal production rapidly to meet the rising demand for energy. Outside of these three nations, Australia, Russia, United States, and South Africa are the main exporters of seaborne products. While the domestic thermal coal market in China, India, and Indonesia will likely grow in the coming decades, this cannot be said of the seaborne market.
Russell: The Big Three Asian thermal coal producers look healthy while others are pale
Asia dominates global thermal coal markets, but the future looks increasingly divided between the robust domestic markets of the three heavyweights China, India and Indonesia as well as a slowly fading seaborne industry. In recent years, the three countries have increased their coal production rapidly to meet the rising demand for energy. Outside of these three nations, Australia, Russia, United States, and South Africa are the main exporters of seaborne products. While the domestic thermal coal market in China, India, and Indonesia will likely grow in the coming decades, this cannot be said of the seaborne market.
Thailand sets record for annual drop in power output and LNG imports
Thailand's electricity production is expected to drop by a record amount this year due to a mild winter and a slowed economy, according government data. This will result in Southeast Asia’s largest LNG importer experiencing its steepest fall in fuel purchases. Official data revealed that the power generated and imported by the 70 million-plus people in the country fell by 5.4% in the seven-month period ending in July. This is nearly twice as much as the 2.8% drop in January-July of 2020, due to the coronavirus lockdowns. The official data for the last four decades show that the annual drop in production is only the fourth since the early 1970s.
Bezos' renewables alliance targets $7.5 billion for developing countries
Executives from an alliance installing renewable energy in developing nations want to invest $7.5 billion over its next five-year plans. They are also looking for more philanthropic partnerships as richer countries cut their government aid. The Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet was launched in 2021 at the global climate talks. It has assisted more than 30 countries in improving electricity grids, setting up battery storage and creating jobs in green economy. The program secures money at a low or no cost from governmental or charitable sources in order to lower the risk of investment and attract money from private lenders and multilateral development banks.
Indonesia sovereign wealth fund INA targets AI in healthcare and renewables, data centres and the Indonesian sovereign wealth fund INA
Chief Investment Officer of the Indonesia Investment Authority, Mr. Agung, said that the fund's priority areas are digital infrastructure, healthcare, and renewables, as it seeks to support the economic development of the country and find foreign partners. INA was launched in 2021, with $5 billion of capital provided by the government, and a dual mission to foster sustainable growth and generate returns. The initial focus was on direct equity investment to attract foreign co-investors. The fund has added private credit and hybrid capital to its assets of 163.4 trillion rupiah (10 billion dollars) since then…