Chapter 2. Investment needs and challenges sections, where the capacitive effects of the cables and the surrounding environment further increase energy dissipation. and offering independent control of active and reactive power, which stabilises the requirements, primarily due to the cost of converter stations needed at each endpoint and, in some cases, the higher price of cables. For instance, the 765 km USD 2.2 billion at completion in 2024. Prices for grid equipment have since risen considerably, driven by supply bottlenecks and rising material costs. As a result, Although the ultimate cost allocation between countries is uncertain, geographic distribution of future investment is also a clear departure from past trends. Lao PDR or Thailand, these two countries account for only 3% of investment from 2025 through to 2040. Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore are set to become the