AI Presents Opportunities To Accelerate Energy Transition - Anwar
By Siti Radziah Hamzah, Maizatul Jamny Muhammad Rosli & Norsyafawati Ab Wahab
KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has cautioned that while the growth of artificial intelligence presents abundant opportunities to accelerate energy transition efforts, it must not outpace nations' sustainability ambitions.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said the challenge lies in ensuring that the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) does not outpace the sustainability ambitions it is expected to support.
He also stressed that while countries pursue AI-driven economic growth, it is imperative to ensure that energy remains secure, affordable to consumers and sustainable and that should remain remain a priority.
Nevertheless, AI has the potential to strengthen energy systems, from improving grid efficiency and forecasting renewable energy generation to optimising industrial energy use, he said in his keynote address at the second day of the Energy Transition Conference 2026 (ETCon26) here today.
Also present at the function were Deputy Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad and TNB Chairman Tan Sri Abdul Razak Abdul Majid.
Anwar said the rapid expansion of AI is likely to accelerate this trajectory further, with data centres and advanced computing infrastructure requiring unprecedented levels of electricity.
“As countries race to build digital economies and harness AI-driven growth, the challenge before us is not only to generate more energy, but to ensure that it remains secure, affordable and sustainable,” he said.
Hence, the prime minister gave the assurance that energy transition will be just, energy secure and AI-driven in the nation’s interest.
"That is, and must continue to be, the measure of this work,” he added.
Anwar said energy transition has become one of the key pillars of the country’s policy framework alongside AI and semiconductor development, with all three sectors closely intertwined through their growing energy requirements.
He said the expansion of digital infrastructure, particularly data centres, had prompted the government to reassess national energy projections to ensure sufficient capacity to support future growth.
“I remember three years ago, when I initially looked at the projections, I said to TNB and the ministries that we have to review this because the focus in this region and particularly in Malaysia, the mushrooming of data centres and the interest in AI and semiconductors would demand more water, more energy,” he added.
He reiterated countries pursuing AI-driven growth should take pains to ensure energy remains secure, affordable and sustainable, adding that these imperatives should remain a priority.
“I emphasise the word affordable because whatever impressive results when submitted to me, I would also say thank you, but I will look at the price to be paid by the consumers. What is it to the common man and woman? How do they fare in this more sophisticated new technology and AI?” he said.
The Prime Minister said AI also presents significant opportunities to support energy transition efforts, including improving grid efficiency, forecasting renewable energy generation and optimising industrial energy consumption.
However, he cautioned that technological advancement must be accompanied by considerations of affordability, connectivity and values in line with the MADANI framework.
“Anyone wanting to engage in new technology including AI must look at the requirement in terms of its technological advancement, but at the same time must look at the implications, the impact on what we term here as the MADANI framework, which stresses on the importance of humanity and values,” he said.
-- BERNAMA