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.