Malaysia

With the Indian power sector projected to attract a total investment of US$300 billion or RM885 billion by 2017, Malaysian power companies are ideally placed to profit from the opportunities.

Petronas Gas needs to raise MYR1.2 billion or $400 million to finance the construction of a 300MW gas-fired Kimanis power plant in Sabah, Malaysia.

The National Energy Efficiency Master Plan (NEEMP) that will strategize Malaysia's efforts in addressing energy security, global warming and climate change issues, has been finalised. Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Loo Took Gee said the Peer Review Team from the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) had also reviewed the plan. "We take positively their comments and confidence in this master plan. It would be submitted to the Cabinet very soon," she said when launching the Asean Energy Management Scheme (AEMAS) and Conference here Tuesday. With the NEEMP, she said, Malaysia would have a comprehensive and systematic approach towards energy efficiency. "The master plan would also complement many energy efficiency initiatives that have been carried out in the past with notable achievements," she said. Malaysia is committed to reducing emissions intensity of its GDP by up to 40 per cent by 2020. On AEMAS, Loo said the establishment was to increase energy efficiency in industries in the ASEAN region through training and accreditation of energy managers on a large scale and the certification of energy end-users. She said the main objectives of the AEMAS were to reduce energy consumption in the industrial sector in ASEAN, to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in ASEAN, and to increase the professional standing of accredited energy managers. "The launch of the Malaysian Chapter of AEMAS marks an important milestone that will support our transition to an energy efficient nation, as we place priority on the need for human capital competency and the drawing up of a code of practices to use technology effectively. "We are confident that AEMAS has the capability to facilitate such efforts which will create the critical mass required for human capacity in promoting energy efficiency and conservation to ensure energy security for our country," she said. Loo said the government had established the Green Technology Financing Scheme (GTFS) with a RM1.5 billion fund to provide soft loans with an interest subsidy of two per cent to companies. "It is for companies that supply, utilise and promote green technology, including energy efficiency and conservation," she said. Under the GTFS which commenced on Jan 1, 2010, suppliers are able to obtain loans of up to RM50 million and for consumers up to RM10 million.  

Malaysia's Renewable Energy Act is on track to be implemented on September 1, upon the setting up of the Sustainable Energy Development Authority.

The Malaysian government has approved the electricity tariff restructuring for Sabah and the Federal Territory of Labuan with effect from July 15.

Shipping : Malaysia’s lifeline Shipping, which transports 90 per cent of global trade, holds economic and environmental advantage over other modes of transport. Hence, the reliance on ocean shipping is expected to rise with increasing trade volume. Seaborne transportation is a key facilitator of Malaysia’s trade-oriented economy. This is underlined by the fact that an estimated 95 percent of the country’s trade is carried via seaborne means. Malaysia contributed 12.44 mil. DWT (deadweight tonnage) or 1.07% to world merchant shipping tonnage, and in MISC, it has the world’s largest owner-operator of LNG tankers.

Robert Bosch plans to invest MYR2.2 billion or US$727.4m to set up a solar panel manufacturing plant in Penang, Malaysia.

Sinohydro denied accusations it used unsafe construction methods to build Malaysia's Bakun dam.

In order to help lessen the increasing demand of the state, GE (NYSE: GE) will support the Kilmanis Power plant for 18 years.

Tenaga Nasional Bhd does not foresee a need to buy power from Singapore-based PowerSeraya Ltd beyond June 15.

Malaysia's Tenaga Nasional will buy 180MW of power from Singapore's PowerSeraya until 15 June.

CIMB Group Holdings Bhd says its private equity infrastructure unit, CapAsia, is investing US$50mil for a 12.9% shareholding in Kazakhstan's vertically-integrated power utility holding company Central Asian Electric Power Corp (Caepco). In a statement, it said the investment, done via CapAsia's Islamic Infrastructure Fund, seeks to fund Caepco's extensive long-term investment programme to improve and upgrade the existing plants and distribution networks, to enhance energy efficiency, and to reduce harmful emissions.  

Kimanis Power  for the construction of the 300MW combined-cycle gas-turbine power plant in Sabah, Malaysia.

Sarawak Energy Berhad and Sarawak Hidro Sdn Berhad have agreed on the main terms of the power purchase agreement for electricity produced by Bakun hydro dam.

Malaysia is seen to have good potential in renewable energy on account of its plentiful resources.

Malakoff is confident that it has the capacity to undertake the construction of a new 1,000 MW coal-based power plant at Tanjung Bin, Johor, on competitive pricing.