Page 14 - AsiaElec Week 09 2021

AsiaElec NEWS IN BRIEF AsiaElec

2023. These usage amounts are based on the TRADING and TNB will invest in multiple solar farms
operation plan of each company, as of January. across Malaysia and tap other forms of clean
FEPC said the operation plan for 2024 and Sunseap, Tenaga form energy, such as hydro electricity, from TNB’s
beyond is undecided, but from the perspective existing plants to ensure a reliable and stable
of showing the outlook for plutonium usage venture to trial Singapore supply of power into Singapore, the statement
after the start of operations at the Rokkasho said.
reprocessing plant, the current outlook for electricity imports from
usage is: 0.7 tonnes in 2024; 1.4-2.8 tonnes in
2025; and about 6.6 tonnes annually between Malaysia
2026 and 2030. FEPC expects the use of RENEWABLES
domestically-produced mox fuel to begin after Malaysia’s Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) and
2026. However, this assumes the Rokkasho Singapore-based solar firm Sunseap Group Masdar looks to extend
facilities are functioning by then. are to form a joint venture to trial cclean
Construction of a reprocessing plant electricity imports into Singapore from renewables position in ‘key
at Rokkasho, which began in 1993 was Malaysia.
originally scheduled for completion in The partnership will import 100 megawatt market’ Southeast Asia
1997while onstruction of the mox plant, also (MW) of electricity to be generated from
at Rokkasho, began in late 2010. Both have renewable energy sources, TNB and Sunseap Abu Dhabi-based renewables company
faces a series of delays and Japan Nuclear Fuel said in a joint statement, which did not give Masdar has a “significant ambition” to expand
Limited now expects to complete construction any financial details. its clean energy portfolio in Southeast Asia,
of the reprocessing plant in 2022 and the mox The venture will contribute to Singapore’s PV Tech reported.
plant in 2024. long-term efforts to power its future “through As the firm makes progress with the
Until 1998, Japan sent most of its used fuel clean and green energy sources”, said Frank development of a 145MW floating solar
to France and the UK for reprocessing and Phuan, co-founder and chief executive project in Indonesia, it is now looking to
mox fabrication but in 1999 began storing of Sunseap, which is backed by investors grow in nearby countries. “We are exploring
it to supply the Rokkasho facilities. Japan’s including Temasek. opportunities in Malaysia, Philippines,
mox fuel policy originally assumed the use In October, Singapore said it plans to trial Thailand and Vietnam. We see the entire
of fast breeder reactors (FBRs) but technical clean energy imports from Malaysia over two ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian
problems have led to its FBRs to be closed years to assess and refine the technical and Nations) region as a key market,” said Ahmed
and plans for a new design are unclear. As regulatory frameworks for power imports Al Awadhi, director of business development
a result plutonium stored in used fuel held into the city-state and boost the security of and investment at Masdar Clean Energy.
by Japanese NPPs has increased to some 46 its energy supply as part of a series of moves He said the company will continue to
metric tons. aimed at reducing its carbon footprint. deploy capital into Asia Pacific’s renewables
Before Fukushima, Japan’s power industry The electricity to be imported by the industry, across technologies including solar,
had planned to run 16 to 18 reactors using partners could account for about 1.5% of storage and wind.
mox. Under FEPC’s plan that has been Singapore’s peak electricity demand, and In particular, Masdar sees “enormous
reduced to 12, only four of which are currently could begin as early as end-2021 via the potential” to deploy clean energy projects
approved for operation, with three of those existing electricity interconnector between in Indonesia, which is said to account for
closed pending local and regulatory approval Singapore and Malaysia, the joint statement nearly 40% of total energy use among ASEAN
to restart. said. countries and is targeting 23% of its energy
If successful, the venture between Sunseap mix to be from renewable sources by 2025.

P14 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 09 03•March•2021