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Malaysia to delay construction of new power plants
KUALA LUMPUR, Jul 01, 2009 (Xinhua via COMTEX) --
Malaysia would postpone its
plan to build new power plants due to the expected decline in
demand for electricity in the current economic situation,
according to a local newspaper on Wednesday.
The New Straits Times quoted Malaysian Energy, Green Technology
and Water Minister Peter Chin Fah Kui as saying that Malaysia's
electricity demand growth in 2009 had been revised downward to one
percent from the earlier forecast of 4.8 percent in 2008, due to
the current economic crisis.
Chin said that Malaysia would have new power plants by 2014 if
the electricity demand growth remained at the earlier forecast.
The minister explained that the postponement to build new power
plants would bring the ministry's current reserve to a more
comfortable level.
He also said that the delay would save about 26 billion ringgit
(7.4 billion U.S. dollars) for the country.
Chin said that the Malaysian Government has decided that its
fuel mix from a particular fuel source should remain at 25 percent
in order to mitigate energy security risks.
Under this policy, Chin said that the government was
considering the possibility of increasing the share of hydropower
in the mix to some 30 percent from the current 8 percent by 2030,
backed by the transfer of the vast hydro potential in Sarawak,
East Malaysia to Peninsular Malaysia after 2015.
The minister said that such transfer of electricity was to
increase the share of green energy in fuel mix to ensure
sustainable energy development in Malaysia.
Chin added that the export plan would stimulate the cables or
wires business in exploiting hydropower.
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