Bangkok, 8 May 2026: ERIA, in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Mitsubishi Research Institute (MRI), convened the Second Technical Workshop on India-ASEAN Regional Power Connectivity in Bangkok. The workshop brought together representatives from governments, regional institutions, utilities, academia, and expert organisations to advance discussions on the strategic, policy, technical, and economic dimensions of cross-border power grid integration.

The workshop was opened by Dr Nuki Agya Utama, Director for Energy Policy and Head of the Asia Zero Emission Center at ERIA, who underscored the growing strategic importance of regional power connectivity in supporting energy security, economic growth, decarbonisation, and renewable energy integration across South and Southeast Asia. He noted that the ASEAN Power Grid and broader initiatives such as One Sun, One World, One Grid provide important frameworks for strengthening regional co-operation.

Strategic and Policy Perspectives

Representatives from CII - including Dr Bhupendra Kumar Singh; Dr Manoj Kumar Jhawar, Managing Director and CEO of PTC India Ltd; Mr Rakesh Kumar Agarwal, former Executive Director of SJVN Ltd and former Board Member of the Cross Border Power Transmission Company; and Mr Asok Pal, former CEO of the Central Transmission Utility, Government of India - presented the strategic case for linking India's grid with the ASEAN Power Grid.

Speakers highlighted that the region's diverse and complementary energy resources, spanning multiple climate zones and time differences, provide a strong rationale for cross-border power connectivity. With a combined population of more than two billion and rapidly rising energy demand, the region is expected to require substantial investments in generation and transmission capacity through mid-century. The India-Myanmar-Thailand corridor was identified as the most practical entry point, with potential for gradual expansion toward the broader Mekong subregion.

Participants also discussed key barriers to realising this vision, including regulatory fragmentation, differing market structures, non-harmonised grid codes, currency and project viability risks, and geopolitical challenges such as trust deficits and the need for political continuity in long-term infrastructure development.

Panelists emphasised that progress would require harmonised grid codes and market rules, intergovernmental agreements, joint technical and steering committees, and public-private partnerships supported by multilateral climate finance. They also highlighted the long-term potential for establishing a regional power exchange to facilitate day-ahead multilateral electricity trading.

Technical and Economic Feasibility Study

ERIA's ongoing feasibility study, supported by MRI consultants Mr Yasushi Iida, Mr Taishi Enokiya, and Ms Keiko Ukai, presented interim findings on candidate interconnection routes, power trade simulations, and cost-benefit assessments.

Preliminary results indicate that cross-border interconnections could significantly reduce regional generation costs and minimise renewable energy curtailment, with the India-Myanmar-Thailand corridor emerging as the most economically viable option. The study also identified the need for grid reinforcement in several transit countries and proposed a trade framework based on wheeling charges and power purchase agreements to ensure equitable benefit-sharing amongst participating countries.

Dr Li Yanfei, Research Fellow at ERIA, concluded the technical discussions by reaffirming the study's contribution to evidence-based policymaking and the shared commitment to advancing regional energy integration. Mr Koki Akabane, Programme Manager at ERIA, delivered the closing remarks, expressing appreciation to all participants, collaborating institutions, and technical contributors for their active engagement and valuable contributions.