KL power demands surge

KL power demands surge

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's power requirements are expected
to surge by a sharp 72 percent by 2000 if its economic boom does
not let up, a government economic report said yesterday.

Power capacity in Malaysia now totals 7,504 megawatts (MW) but
demand over the next six years was expected to climb to 12,873
mw, according to the treasury's report presented in parliament
with the 1995 budget.

"With the Malaysian economy undergoing sustained growth of
more than eight percent per annum over the last seven years, the
demand for electricity is expected to rise approximately by 10
percent annually," the report said.

The new power would have to be provided largely by the private
sector as the government had to allot funds for other
infrastructure development, the report said.

Five independent power producers (IPPs) have been licensed to
provide 3,960 mw by June 1996 to help national power firm Tenaga
Nasional and two other state utilities, Sabah Electricity Board
and Sarawak Electricity Supply Corp., meet the projected demand.