Kuala lumpur: Tenaga Nasional Bhd's (TNB) flagship convention, the Energy Transition Conference 2026 (ETCon26), concluded today with a strong emphasis on translating dialogues and conversations into concrete implementation, and with attendance from more than 4,000 delegates from across ASEAN and key global markets.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the three-day conference saw the formation of key strategic partnerships and agreements, policy alignments, and investment-driven collaborations, reinforcing ETCon26 as a catalyst for actionable outcomes that advance Malaysia's and ASEAN's energy transition agenda.
Bringing together policymakers, government agencies, industry leaders, and financial and global partners, the conference reflected growing regional momentum to accelerate clean energy deployment, strengthen cross-border cooperation, and build a more resilient, future-ready energy ecosystem aligned with the aspirations of the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR).
ETCon26 received strong support from across the global energy ecosystem, with participation from 42 key strategic partners encompassing multiple sectors. The conference also welcomed participants from over 60 countries, alongside approximately 80 speakers comprising policymakers, industry leaders, investors, technology experts, and academics from around the world, reflecting the growing international significance of ETCon26 as a regional platform driving meaningful energy transition conversations, partnerships, and solutions.
ETCon26 saw the formalisation of 15 strategic partnerships and agreements across renewable energy, cross-border power, grid development, gas infrastructure, and capability building. These partnerships were formed to accelerate clean and renewable energy deployment, enable cross-border green power initiatives, strengthen grid infrastructure, and build local capabilities to support long-term energy transition ambitions. Together, they indicate an increasing momentum to transition projects from the planning stage to actual implementation.
The agreements were witnessed by key national leaders across the three-day programme, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, and Deputy Minister of PETRA Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Mohamad. Also present were Minister of Economy Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, Deputy Minister of Economy Datuk Mohd Shahar Abdullah, and Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup. The agreements indicate a strong institutional commitment and policy support towards advancing Malaysia's sustainable energy agenda.
These partnerships include hybrid hydro floating solar and ground-mounted solar projects with battery storage, cross-border renewable energy initiatives, rooftop solar deployments, gas infrastructure development, grid modernisation collaborations, and capability-building programmes under the Energy Transition and Sustainability Academy (ETSA).
Key discussions throughout the conference centred on the growing urgency to accelerate ASEAN's energy transition amid rising electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence (AI), digitalisation, and the rapid expansion of data centres. Conversations also focused on clean energy security, strengthening grid resilience, scaling renewable energy deployment, and advancing cross-border energy connectivity through initiatives such as the ASEAN Power Grid.
Across plenaries, ministerial dialogues, and technical sessions, participants emphasised the need for stronger alignment between policy, industry, and investment to ensure the region remains competitive, secure, and sustainable in an increasingly complex global landscape. Importantly, the conference reinforced the need to ensure the energy transition remains inclusive and people-centric, with continued focus on workforce development, local industry participation, small and medium enterprise (SME) empowerment, and the creation of new economic opportunities within the green and digital economy.
As the convenor, TNB brought together stakeholders to foster collaboration and enable project delivery. The conference reflected TNB's position not only as a utility but also as a driver and enabler of partnerships and implementation across Malaysia's evolving energy landscape.
TNB president/chief executive officer Datuk Ir Ts Shamsul Ahmad said ETCon26 has shown that Malaysia has the necessary policy frameworks, industrial partnerships, technical expertise, and institutional commitment to effectively advance the energy transition at a pace and scale that meets the challenge. "The conclusion of ETCon26 marks the start of the next phase, as agreements and partnerships formed over the past three days move forward with stronger coordination across Malaysia and the ASEAN region," he said.
As ASEAN's energy and digital demands continue to grow, ETCon26 laid the groundwork for stronger regional connectivity, cleaner growth, and more resilient energy systems, supporting Malaysia's role in shaping a more sustainable and integrated energy future.