India has called for strong regional cooperation regarding energy security, cross-border electricity trade and the transition to clean energy at the 20th East Asia Summit (EAS) Energy Ministers’ Meeting held in Manila, Philippines.
Representing India, Union Minister Shripad Yesso Naik reaffirmed India’s commitment to a secure and sustainable power future, while calling for closer cooperation under the ASEAN-India Plan of Action 2026–2030 through the ASEAN Power Grid, regional transmission, electricity trade and clean technologies.
Nayak stated that India’s power generation capacity had reached 558.8 GW by September 30, 2026, with 308 GW coming from non-fossil sources, accounting for approximately 55% of the total capacity. He also highlighted the progress made under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, noting that by September 29, around 59.5 lakh households had benefited from approximately 50.1 lakh rooftop solar installations.
India Highlights Power Sector Progress and Regional Connectivity
The Minister stated that in June 2025, India crossed the milestone of sourcing 50% of its total installed power generation capacity from non-fossil sources, five years ahead of its 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution target.
Naik said India was ready to share its expertise in renewable deployment, grid integration, transmission planning, storage and green hydrogen with EAS countries. He also called for stronger institutional cooperation between the ASEAN Centre for Energy and Indian organisations, including NTPC, POWERGRID, CEA, NIWE, NISE and NPTI.
Naik said India and Singapore are exploring a proposed 2,000 MW cross-border power link, with one option involving a nearly 3,000-km transmission corridor from Imphal through Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. The link could boost electricity trade and strengthen regional grid resilience.
Areas of cooperation included strategic petroleum reserves, emergency preparedness, power system resilience, LNG and gas security, renewable energy forecasting, battery storage, and emerging technologies. Naik also proposed an exchange of information with ASEAN partners regarding CCUS and India’s carbon credit trading scheme.
He reiterated India’s support for ASEAN’s efforts to implement the Enhanced Memorandum of Understanding on the ASEAN Power Grid and to boost electricity trade among the countries. Naik also recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2025 announcement to support the initiative by training 400 professionals in the field of grid connectivity.
(PIB)
