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Malaysia eyes ASEAN grid as it aims to be the region’s renewable hub
Nik Nazmi bin Nik Ahmad discusses Malaysia's future EV plans, Tesla investment and his thoughts on the European Union's Critical Minerals Act and the United States' increasing protectionism on critical minerals
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Malaysia's Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Nik Nazmi bin Nik Ahmad during an interview on Wednesday, August 23 2023 (JP/Vincent Fabian Thomas /Vincent Fabian Thomas)
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em>Malaysia's Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Nik Nazmi bin Nik Ahmad, sat down with The Jakarta Post’s Vincent Fabian Thomas and Yohana Belinda on Aug. 23.
Nik Nazmi explained some of his thoughts on the challenges to erecting an ASEAN grid, the reason Malaysia has decided to export its electricity and the country’s plans to ramp up the use of electric vehicles (EVs), as well as issues relating to critical minerals and the energy transition.
The following are excerpts from the interview, which was conducted during Nik Nazmi's visit to Jakarta, before he attended the 41st ASEAN Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM).
Question: Why is Malaysia promoting EVs? How do they contribute to reducing national emissions?
Answer: Electrification as a whole will help in our target to achieve net zero at the earliest by 2050. Electrification of transportation is one part, but you also need to clean up on the generation, so that's down to renewables and energy efficiency.
If you ask me obviously the best transport would be electric railways.
We are not saying that EVs are the only solution, but we know some people need them due to the nature of their jobs that require EVs.
