Another coal-fired 1,400-MW powerplant planned in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
Saturday, February 15 2003 - 02:37 AM WIB
Energy, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Amar Leo Moggie told reporters this at an agreements signing event - to build three coal-fuelled powerplants in Johor - at the Tanjung Pelepas Port in Gelang Patah.
The first agreement involved an RM200 million loan between SKS Power Sdn Bhd (SKS Power), an independent power provider, with eight financial institutions to develop three 700 megawatts coal-fueled powerplants in Tanjung Bin, Johor.
The second agreement, between SKS Power and IMW Dreging Sdn Bhd (IMW), was for initial works to begin on the projects.
So far, there are two coal-fuelled powerplants in the country - two in Klang, Selangor that are operational; and another in Janamanjung, Perak which would be operational next month.
Leo Moggie said coal usage was in line with the government's policy to reduce dependance on oil and gas.
"Coal will play an important role in the future - its component in fuel mix will be boosted from the current 12 per cent to 21 per cent by 2005," he said.
On sufficient coal supply, Leo Moggie said Tenaga Nasional Berhad, through its subsidiary Tenaga Nasional Fuel Sdn Bhd, would import coal from China, South Africa, Australia and Indonesia.
Leo Moggie said the Tanjung Bin project was a fast track for powerplants to be commercially operated to meet the country's increasing electricity needs.
"This will be one of the largest single phased independent power provider in the world," Leo Moggie said.
The first of the three 700 megawatts units, costing RM8 billion, would be operational in August 2006. Units two and three would be up and running by Feb and August 2007 respectively. (*)