Budget targets renewable infrastructure investment

Australia's 2026-27 Federal Budget introduced a time-limited, targeted concession under the foreign resident capital gains tax regime for investment in renewable energy infrastructure. The transitional arrangement applies to foreign investors disposing of certain renewable energy infrastructure assets from the commencement date, defined as the first day of the next quarter after Royal Assent, until 30 June 2030. The Budget frames the concession as part of the implementation of earlier reforms to strengthen the foreign resident capital gains tax regime, while maintaining support for Australia's climate transition. It is estimated to reduce receipts by A$425 million over the five years from 2025-26. The measure sits alongside wider clean energy programmes, including the Capacity Investment Scheme and household battery support, but its core purpose is to preserve foreign capital flows into utility-scale renewable infrastructure.

https://budget.gov.au

Four ministries issue AI-energy action plan

China's National Energy Administration, together with the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and the National Data Administration, issued an action plan on 8 May 2026 to deepen integration between artificial intelligence and energy. The plan focuses on six policy areas: secure energy supply for computing-power infrastructure; greener and lower-carbon computing facilities; stronger coordination between electricity systems and computing demand; expanded AI applications in energy operations; better use of energy data; and innovation in energy-sector AI models. By 2030, China aims to significantly increase clean-energy supply capacity for AI computing infrastructure while improving AI deployment across the energy sector. The plan links digital industrial policy with energy-system planning, including green power procurement and wider use of AI in grid, generation and energy-management applications.

https://english.www.gov.cn

Cabinet clears two more semiconductor projects

India's Union Cabinet approved two additional semiconductor projects under the India Semiconductor Mission on 5 May 2026, taking the total number of approved projects to 12, with a cumulative investment of around Rs 1.64 lakh crore. The new approvals cover a compound semiconductor fabrication and assembly facility in Gujarat for Mini and Micro-LED display modules and GaN foundry services, and an outsourced semiconductor assembly and test facility in Surat with a planned capacity of 1,033.20 million chips per year. The two projects involve a cumulative investment of about Rs 3,936 crore and are expected to generate 2,230 skilled jobs. Separately, the 2026-27 Union Budget provides Rs 8,000 crore for the modified semiconductor and display manufacturing programme, including a Rs 1,000 crore provision for India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 focused on equipment, materials, design IP, supply chains and R&D centres.

https://www.pib.gov.in

Ministry launches digital ecosystem alignment initiative

Indonesia's Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs launched the Digital Ecosystem Alignment initiative, known as DEAL 2026, in Jakarta on 23 June 2026. The initiative is designed as a government-led coordination platform bringing together ministries, businesses, academics, investors, startups, small and medium enterprises, communities, and regional administrations around a shared digital-transformation agenda. Eight collaboration packages were announced, covering telecommunications connectivity and industry value creation, digital consumer protection, digital innovation and technopreneurship, and the development of a healthy and secure digital ecosystem. Other packages focus on strengthening the national startup ecosystem, expanding digital inclusion and adoption of emerging technologies, and improving logistics cost efficiency. The Ministry framed DEAL 2026 around three principles – alignment of interests, shared responsibility, and national prosperity – underscoring that digital transformation requires coordinated public, private and regional participation.

https://en.antaranews.com

Carbon dioxide storage act enters full force

Japan's Act on Carbon Dioxide Storage Businesses reached full enforcement on 22 May 2026, following Cabinet approval of orders setting the enforcement date and related transitional measures. The law, enacted in 2024, creates the legal basis for carbon capture and storage as part of Japan's decarbonisation strategy. It establishes a licensing framework for carbon dioxide storage businesses and exploration drilling, administered by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and provides for registered Storage Rights and exploratory drilling rights. The implementing orders also address technical conditions, including requirements for stored carbon dioxide in marine reservoirs and the registration of storage rights and mortgages. The framework is intended to support commercial CCS value-chain development, including long-term monitoring, safety obligations and regulatory certainty for storage projects that can contribute to Japan's 2050 carbon-neutrality pathway.

https://www.meti.go.jp

AI and Digital Code framework advances

Kazakhstan continued building out its digital and artificial-intelligence governance framework in 2026. The Law on Artificial Intelligence, signed in November 2025 and in force from 18 January 2026, established a dedicated framework for AI development, oversight, and compliance roles. In April 2026, subordinate rules began to operationalise the law, including criteria for classifying informatisation facilities as AI systems and rules for developing, using and distributing machine-readable forms. In parallel, the Digital Code, signed by the President on 9 January 2026, is scheduled to enter into force on 11 July 2026. It consolidates digital legislation, sets ethical boundaries for neural-network use, and strengthens protections around automated decisions, data governance and digital rights. Together, these measures create a broader policy architecture for digital sovereignty, AI accountability and public-sector digital transformation.

https://primeminister.kz

Johor-Singapore SEZ framework moves ahead

Malaysia and Singapore continued operationalising the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone framework in 2026, following the bilateral agreement signed in January 2025. The JS-SEZ covers over 3,500 square kilometres across nine flagship areas in southern Johor and is structured to support complementary operations between Singapore and Malaysia. The zone targets priority sectors, including manufacturing, logistics, the digital economy, green economy, energy, financial services, healthcare, education, tourism, and business services. Official investment-promotion material highlights special incentives for qualifying activities, including a special corporate tax rate of five per cent for up to fifteen years for eligible companies. While the investment blueprint and master plan have been subject to timing revisions, the policy direction remains focused on attracting regional and global investment by linking Singapore's finance, R&D and connectivity strengths with Johor's land availability, labour base and manufacturing capacity.

https://www.edb.gov.sg

DOE fast-tracks 1,471 MW of renewables to grid

The Philippines Department of Energy announced on 29 March 2026 that it was accelerating the grid entry of about 1,471 MW of committed new power capacity targeted for commercial operation by April 2026. The package covers 22 projects, led by renewable energy and storage: 12 solar projects with around 1,284 MW, six hydroelectric plants adding 48.23 MW, two biomass facilities providing 38 MW, one wind project of 13.56 MW, and a 20 MW integrated renewable energy storage system. The DOE framed the measure as a response to power-supply and fuel-price risks, and as part of the wider implementation of Executive Order No. 110 to secure stable and reliable electricity. At the time of the announcement, 24 generation plants with an aggregate capacity of 1,178.642 MW had already entered commercial operation under the broader fast-tracking programme.

https://doe.gov.ph

Ministry prioritises 100 GW renewables and grid

Republic of Korea's Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment set out its 2026 energy-transition work plan with a focus on deploying 100 GW of renewable energy by 2030 and expanding grid capacity to accommodate it. The ministry reported that 3.8 GW of renewable capacity was deployed in 2025, the largest annual increase since 2022, and that the 2026 budget for renewable-energy deployment and financing had increased from KRW 1.1 trillion to KRW 1.5 trillion. The plan also points to new institutional foundations, including the Special Act on the Expansion of the National Power Grid, the launch of the National Power Grid Committee, and distributed-energy special zones. Key work areas include accelerating renewable deployment, reducing costs, expanding power-grid operations, establishing a power system suited to the energy transition, and strengthening public acceptance of nuclear-energy policy.

https://www.mcee.go.kr

National AI Strategy updated; SPEED launched

Singapore updated its National AI Strategy on 20 May 2026, when the Ministry of Digital Development and Information set out 10 refreshed priorities under the National AI Council, chaired by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. The update focuses on sectoral AI missions in advanced manufacturing, financial services, connectivity and healthcare; wider enterprise and public-sector adoption; workforce readiness; compute access; trusted data governance; and stronger AI assurance. Separately, on 1 April 2026, Singapore launched the S$250 million Singapore Pilots for Energy and Enterprise Decarbonisation programme. SPEED, jointly issued by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, A*STAR, EDB and EMA, supports translational research and the development and demonstration of low-carbon technologies close to market deployment. Eligible areas include solar, carbon capture and utilisation, electrification, energy efficiency, hydrogen, advanced grid technologies and energy storage.

https://www.edb.gov.sg · https://www.mddi.gov.sg/

Battery storage procurement advances

Sri Lanka advanced its largest grid-scale battery energy storage procurement in 2026 after the Cabinet approved the award of tenders for a 160 MW / 640 MWh standalone battery energy storage system programme. The Ceylon Electricity Board's international competitive bidding documents describe the programme as 16 separate 10 MW / 40 MWh projects, connected to 33 kV grid substations, to be developed on a build, own and operate basis with a 15-year operational period. The Ministry of Energy said the systems are intended to provide energy shifting capability and address one of the main challenges in integrating higher levels of daytime solar power into the national grid. Tenders were first invited on 30 July 2025, extended to 14 October 2025, and attracted 153 bids across the 16 designated substations.

https://www.ceb.lk · https://energymin.gov.lk

ADB commits US$70 billion for power and digital

The Asian Development Bank announced at its 59th Annual Meeting in Samarkand that it would back US$70 billion in new energy and digital infrastructure initiatives by 2035 across Asia and the Pacific. The package combines the Pan-Asia Power Grid Initiative, expected to mobilise US$50 billion for regional power-system connectivity and cross-border renewable electricity trade, with the Asia-Pacific Digital Highway, expected to mobilise US$20 billion for digital corridors, terrestrial and subsea fibre networks, satellite links, regional data centres and cybersecurity risk management. ADB positioned the initiatives as a regional public-infrastructure push, building on existing cooperation frameworks such as the ASEAN Power Grid, the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation programme, and the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Energy Strategy 2030. The bank expects the initiatives to expand first-time internet access and improve digital connectivity across the region.

https://www.adb.org