Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) is accelerating its RM43 billion grid modernisation programme to support Malaysia’s rapidly growing data centre industry and rising energy demand.
Speaking at the Datacentre and Cloud Infrastructure Expo 2026, TNB chief grid officer Hasmarizal Hassan said the utility is strengthening its grid infrastructure to support the expansion of digital infrastructure across the country.
He said future energy requirements from data centres have already been incorporated into national generation planning to ensure long-term system readiness and reliability.
A key initiative highlighted was TNB’s Green Lane Pathway, which has reduced grid connection timelines for data centre projects from 36 months to as little as 12 months.
As of March 2026, TNB has successfully delivered 33 projects under the framework, reflecting the company’s efforts to improve connection speed and position Malaysia as a regional data centre hub.
“To manage large-scale demand growth, TNB is also adopting a cluster-based grid strategy, concentrating transmission infrastructure investments across identified growth corridors,” Hasmarizal said.
He noted that Johor remains one of the key active clusters under the strategy, with plans for further expansion nationwide to support scalability while maintaining grid stability.
According to TNB, the initiative is aimed at ensuring the national grid can continue supporting the increasing demand from data centres and other high-growth industries as Malaysia attracts more digital and technology investments.
The company added that the government’s MADANI economic agenda continues to prioritise industries that create high-value jobs, encourage innovation and support long-term economic growth.
