Fadillah's Visit To Busan Signals Readiness To Advance Regional Cooperation, Energy Transition

From Harizah Hanim Mohamed

BUSAN, Aug 30 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof’s official working visit to Busan has reinforced Malaysia’s readiness to strengthen regional cooperation and advance its clean energy transition, both domestically and within ASEAN.

Through Malaysia’s interventions during the 15th Asia-Pacific Energy Ministerial Meeting (APEC EMM15) and the 16th Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM16), Fadillah reaffirmed the country’s commitment to achieving 70 per cent renewable energy capacity by 2050. 

The target will be driven by solar, hydropower, green hydrogen, and digital solutions for demand-side management.

Malaysia also stressed the importance of enhancing regional interconnectivity via the ASEAN Power Grid as a key driver for electricity supply security.

Fadillah, who is also the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, expanded Malaysia’s bilateral engagements by meeting his regional peers, including Hong Kong’s Secretary of Energy Chin Wan Tse, Brunei’s Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Major General (Retired) Dato Paduka Seri Halbi Mohammad Yussof, and South Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Economy Jung-Kwan Kim.

Discussions were also held with New Zealand, which shared its expertise in geothermal energy and expressed interest in liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification.

“We also met with industry players from the United States and South Korea who offered their expertise and technology in nuclear energy, showing their willingness to collaborate and support Malaysia,” Fadillah said.

The Malaysian delegation also visited foreign companies such as Doosan Enerbility to assess turbine manufacturing capabilities and explore potential support for future power plant projects, as securing turbines remains challenging.

Bilateral meetings covered a wide range of issues, including cooperation in hydrogen technology, the development of nuclear energy for power generation, enhancing ASEAN Power Grid interconnections, waste-to-energy projects, and energy efficiency initiatives.

Fadillah was in Busan from Aug 25-29 on an official working visit. 

Busan, South Korea’s busiest port city, is also home to Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP), a subsidiary of Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) and Doosan Enerbility Co Ltd.

Malaysia continues to play a prominent role in the energy sector, ranked as the world’s fifth-largest LNG exporter with nearly 28 million tonnes exported last year, mainly to Japan, China, and South Korea. 

On the renewable front, Malaysia has started exporting electricity to Singapore via the Energy Exchange Malaysia (Enegem), beginning with 50MW in 2024, with plans for expansion.

The country’s aspirations for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 are guided by the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) and the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030. 

Achieving 70 per cent renewable energy capacity by 2050 will require an estimated RM637 billion in investments for grid upgrades, renewable capacity expansion, and energy storage.

In their joint statement, APEC EMM15 Energy Ministers acknowledged the need for stronger efforts to develop and deploy technologies that expand access to energy, modernise systems, and accelerate innovation while respecting different domestic contexts.

“Through these efforts, we will foster strong, balanced, secure, and sustainable economic growth,” the statement said.

APEC, hosted by South Korea this year, convened in Busan on Aug 27–28, 2025, under the theme “Accelerating Sustainable, Affordable, Reliable, Secure and Innovative Energy for a Prosperous Future”, aligned with the broader APEC 2025 Korea theme “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow: Connect, Innovate, Prosper.”

The statement also highlighted the importance of cooperation among economies through knowledge sharing and capacity building, on a voluntary and mutually agreed basis, to strengthen regional energy security and resilience in line with the APEC Energy Security Initiative.

Fadillah also met with the Malaysian diaspora in Busan ahead of Malaysia’s 68th Merdeka celebration. 

He was accompanied by Malaysia’s Ambassador to South Korea Datuk Mohd Zamruni Khalid and Energy Transition and Water Transformation Deputy Secretary-General (Energy) Mareena Mahpudz.

According to the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation, Malaysia was South Korea’s 11th largest trading partner and export destination between January and July 2025. 

Total trade stood at US$15.69 billion, with South Korea’s exports to Malaysia rising 15.2 per cent to US$6.91 billion while Malaysia’s exports to South Korea grew 12.9 per cent to US$8.77 billion. (US$1=RM4.22)

For 2024, bilateral trade totalled US$24.42 billion.

-- BERNAMA