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Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: The growth of artificial intelligence (AI) presents abundant opportunities to accelerate energy transition efforts and ensure Malaysia's sustainability aspirations are achieved, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Thursday.
While the move towards sustainability is inevitable, it is imperative to ensure that energy remains secure, affordable to consumers and sustainable, and that should remain a priority, Anwar said in his keynote address at the Energy Transition Conference 2026 (ETCon26).
"AI presents opportunities to accelerate energy transition efforts. From improving grid efficiency and forecasting renewable energy generation to optimizing industrial energy use, AI has the potential to strengthen energy systems," he said.
"The challenge, however, lies in ensuring that the growth of AI does not outpace the sustainability ambitions it is also expected to support ... As countries race to build digital economies and harness AI-driven growth, the challenge before us is not only to generate more energy, but to ensure that it remains secure, affordable and sustainable," he said.
Anwar also noted that relying too heavily on imported fossil fuels has proven to be vulnerable to disruptions, citing recent developments around the Strait of Hormuz as an example of how events far from Southeast Asia can still have significant repercussions for the region.
"In the Strait of Hormuz, the epicenter lies far from here, yet its tremors are felt across the entire region. They are straining supply lines that power industries and keep homes running, while also triggering energy emergencies across ASEAN, neighboring countries, and indeed the world," he said.
