Page 10 - AsiaElec Week 50 2020

AsiaElec POLICY AsiaElec

Malaysia looks to replace coal with gas

MALAYSIA MALAYSIA has begun looking at ways of reduc- National Energy Policy (NEP), and expects to
ing its coal consumption in favour of natural gas, release it in the first quarter of 2021.
with one senior government official saying gas Mustapa said: “Malaysia is one of the biggest
demand could rise once a new energy roadmap gas exporters. In fact, we are [among] the top
is launched next year. five in the world in exports and top 20 in terms
Malaysian Minister of the Economy Mustapa of gas reserves. In terms of consumption, we
Mohamed said last week that the country would export most of our gas, about 70%. With this new
play a “more active role” in gas and liquefied nat- roadmap and policy, Malaysia would like to take
ural gas (LNG) production and consumption. a more active role.”
“Like every other country in the world, we are The president of the Malaysian Gas Asso-
aiming for a reduction in coal consumption as ciation (MGA), Hazli Sham Kassim, said on
way to derive energy, as coal is still the biggest December 4 that he expected the roadmap
component in our energy mix. Moving forward, to mirror other leading gas producers’ policy
gas, hopefully, will play an important role,” the initiatives.
New Straits Times quoted Mohamed as saying “MGA has been calling for NGR to be devel-
on December 3. oped since 2018 in order to future-proof the
The minister, who was speaking at the close [gas] industry by ensuring security of supply,
of an industry event, said that while the country increasing demand and liberalising the market.
exports most of its gas, the government’s Natu- We eagerly look forward [to] its release in 1Q,”
ral Gas Roadmap (NGR) could lead to higher the Edge Markets quoted him as saying.™
domestic consumption of the fuel. Kuala Lum-
pur is still drafting the NGR, which is part of the

NEWS IN BRIEF

POLLUTION COAL Oddar Meanchey province’s Trapaing Prasat
district.
Air quality, health impacts New coal-fired power plant two generators. One producing 350mW is
The plant at Koh Kong will comprise
of coal-fired power in the approved in Cambodia scheduled to come online in 2024, with the
second 350mW generator scheduled to be
Philippines The Council for the Development of ready in 2025, said Victor Jona, director-
general of the General Department of Energy
Cambodia (CDC) has approved a $1bn
Air pollution is the biggest environmental 700MW coal-fired power plant in Koh Kong. of Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME).
risk factor to human health in the Philippines. The plant was invested in by Botum Sakor He said the project was part of the master
With 10 GW of installed coal capacity, air Energy Company ltd, an affiliated company of plan of the MME to supply power across
pollution from coal is responsible for 630 Royal Group, located in Thmar Sor commune, the country. Jona said demand for power is
air pollution-related deaths and $165mn Botum Sakor district, Koh Kong province. increasing year-on-year and the ministry has
annually. In the next decade, the cumulative Once the project is complete, it is expected to to make sure there is enough for the country
impact will be 7,000 premature deaths, and an create some 360 local jobs. stretching through 2040.
economic cost of approximately $2bn without The Royal Group secured 168.8 hectares “We will pay $0.072 per kilowatt hour
stronger emissions standards. of land in Koh Kong’s Botum Sakor National {under our agreement],” Jona added. “[And
This will worsen as another 9 GW of coal Park under a leasing agreement to develop we] have done a thorough study on the
are currently in various stages of construction the plant. The sub-decree, signed by Prime environmental impact of the coal power
and permitting phases. This report “Air Minister Hun Sen and released on Aug 6, plant.”
Quality & Health Impacts of Coal-fired Power states that the government has reclassified Jona said the government has balanced the
in the Philippines” states that if the proposed the state-public land of the park, in Thmar impact on the environment and the benefits to
CFPPs are commercialized by 2024, these Sor and Chamlong Kor village, Thmar Sor the Kingdom’s economy.
new plants would result in almost 26,300 commune, Botum Sakor district, to state- Before giving the licence to the investors,
premature deaths over 40 years. private land for sustainable-use. the government said it had thought through
CENTRE FOR RESEARCH ON ENERGY AND In October, CDC also approved a 265mW all aspects of the project.
CLEAN AIR (CREA) coal-fired power
plant project invested in by
Oddormeanchey Power Industrial Co Ltd in

P10 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 50 16•December•2020