Building on a decade of regional power cooperation, the Mekong Institute (MI), in partnership with China Southern Power Grid (CSG), co-hosted the 10th Lancang-Mekong Power Utility Summit (LMPUS) on June 26, 2026, in Hong Kong, China. Under the theme “From Interconnection to a Common Market: Creating a New Decade of Power Cooperation in the Lancang-Mekong (LM) Region,” the event highlighted the LM countries’ transition from expanding cross-border power infrastructure to strengthening market integration, institutional coordination, and regional electricity governance.
In a keynote, MI Executive Director Mr. Suriyan Vichitlekarn said that, “Physical interconnection is merely the foundation; the ultimate task is converting these physical links into a regional market mechanism that guarantees energy security, affordability, and resilience.” He added that “MI remains committed to providing the neutral space necessary to help transform regional grids from simple physical interconnection into a fully functional and integrated market.”
A key outcome of the summit was the launch of the publication Research on Corporate Governance of Power Utilities in the Lancang-Mekong Region. Developed jointly by CSG Lancang-Mekong International Company (CSG-LMI) and MI, the publication highlights sound governance as a critical enabler for attracting sustainable investment and supporting the long-term development of an interconnected regional electricity market. It provides practical recommendations for enhancing institutional transparency, corporate governance, risk management, and financial accountability among regional power utilities.
The summit also featured a strategic roundtable on “The Next Golden Decade” of regional power cooperation and energy transition in LM countries. Moderated by Mr. Suriyan, the discussion focused on the region’s transition from conventional bilateral electricity trading arrangements toward a more integrated multilateral market, while also exploring the collaborative frameworks, digital platforms, financing mechanisms, and institutional trust needed to optimize cross-border clean energy resources and improve regional power system resilience.
Reflecting on this evolving direction, CSG-LMI General Manager Mr. Chen Xu emphasized the need to reinforce long-term mechanisms for regional cooperation. “Over the past decade, regional power cooperation has largely focused on building physical interconnections. Looking ahead, our model of cooperation must shift its primary focus toward strengthening long-term mechanisms for coordination, information sharing, and joint planning among utilities to successfully navigate the energy transition.”
Other speakers emphasized that advancing from bilateral electricity exchanges to a multilateral regional power market will require better “soft connectivity” through harmonized technical standards, compatible grid codes, and coordinated regulatory frameworks to enable efficient cross-border electricity trading.
A Global South collaboration on power infra development
The LM Power Utility Summit was held as part of the Global South Power Partnership Development Forum, also hosted by CSG. The forum and summit welcomed participants from more than 20 countries and regions, representing government ministries, power utilities, international organizations, industry associations, financial institutions, academia, and other stakeholders across the energy sector.
Key regional delegations included power utilities and ministries from all six LM countries, including Electricité du Laos (EDL), Electricité du Cambodge (EDC), the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), Vietnam Electricity (EVN), and the Ministry of Electricity and Energy of Myanmar. The event also welcomed senior representatives from the World Energy Council (WEC), the International Council on Large Electric Systems (CIGRE), and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP), as well as utilities from Central Asia, West Asia, Latin America, and Africa.
At the main forum, CSG introduced the “CSG Treasures,” showcasing advanced technologies and solutions in ultra-high-voltage DC transmission, submarine cable transmission, pumped-storage hydropower, and new energy storage.
Participants witnessed the launch of the Initiative for Cooperation and Development among Global South Utilities, which promotes closer collaboration in power infrastructure development, low-carbon technology deployment, green investment, and knowledge sharing among utility companies. CSG highlighted its growing regional footprint, including 17 high-voltage cross-border transmission lines connecting LM countries and the cumulative delivery of more than 84 billion kWh of electricity, over 90 percent of which has been generated from clean energy sources.
Complementing the high-level discussions, forum and summit delegates traveled to Shenzhen on June 27, 2026, for a series of technical visits showcasing next-generation power infrastructure. The field exposure included visits to the Lianhuashan Super-charging Station and Chunhui Substation to observe advanced urban power distribution and digital grid technologies, before concluding the program at the Shenzhen Pumped Storage Power Station, where participants gained firsthand insights into flexible energy storage systems and the development of new power systems supporting the clean energy transition.
