Latest news with #SabahEnergyRoadmap
Daily Express
28-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
ECoS pushes to Increase Energy Generation Capacity
Published on: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 Published on: Wed, May 28, 2025 Text Size: Datuk Ir. Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid, accompanied by delegations from ECoS and Sabah Electricity, visited several existing power stations and energy development project sites located at the West Coast of Sabah. Kota Kinabalu: The Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS) has conducted comprehensive monitoring and evaluation of key energy projects in Sabah, aligning with the commission's efforts to strengthen the electricity supply system in Sabah. Datuk Ir. Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid, accompanied by delegations from ECoS and Sabah Electricity, visited several existing power stations and energy development project sites located at the West Coast of Sabah. Locations visited included the SPR Energy Power Plant, Kimanis Power Plant, Sabah Oil & Gas Terminal (SOGT), Tenom Pangi Hydro Station, and two new project sites in Kimanis. The purpose of these visits was to assess project progress, ensure compliance with safety and technical standards, and evaluate the operational efficiency of existing power plants that play a crucial role in the stability of Sabah's electricity supply. 'This close monitoring is vital to ensure all projects are on schedule and can increase generation capacity. Both of these new projects will contribute 200MW of energy to the grid upon completion,' said Nasser. He also emphasized that these efforts are part of the Sabah State Government's commitment to address electricity supply issues and strengthen the state's energy sector holistically, in line with the goals outlined in the Sabah Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2040 (SE-RAMP 2040). Advertisement 'ECoS is committed to ensuring that every energy project in Sabah is developed and managed efficiently, safely, and sustainably. Close cooperation among government agencies, GLC companies, and industry players is key to the successful implementation of these projects,' he added. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
27-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
ECoS strengthens efforts to increase energy generation capacity in Sabah
Abdul Nasser and delegations from ECoS and Sabah Electricity, visit one of the power stations and energy development project sites. KOTA KINABALU (May 27): The Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS) has conducted comprehensive monitoring and evaluation of key energy projects in Sabah, aligning with its efforts to strengthen the electricity supply system in Sabah. Its chief executive officer, Datuk Ir. Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid, accompanied by delegations from ECoS and Sabah Electricity, visited several existing power stations and energy development project sites located at the west coast of Sabah. Locations visited included the SPR Energy Power Plant, Kimanis Power Plant, Sabah Oil & Gas Terminal (SOGT), Tenom Pangi Hydro Station, and two new project sites in Kimanis. The purpose of these visits was to assess project progress, ensure compliance with safety and technical standards, and evaluate the operational efficiency of existing power plants that play a crucial role in the stability of Sabah's electricity supply. 'This close monitoring is vital to ensure all projects are on schedule and can increase generation capacity. Both of these new projects will contribute 200MW of energy to the grid upon completion,' said Nasser. He also emphasized that these efforts are part of the Sabah State Government's commitment to address electricity supply issues and strengthen the state's energy sector holistically, in line with the goals outlined in the Sabah Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2040 (SE-RAMP 2040). 'ECoS is committed to ensuring that every energy project in Sabah is developed and managed efficiently, safely, and sustainably. Close cooperation among government agencies, GLC companies, and industry players is key to the successful implementation of these projects,' he added.
Daily Express
27-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
ECoS strengthens efforts to increase energy generation capacity
Published on: Tuesday, May 27, 2025 Published on: Tue, May 27, 2025 Text Size: KOTA KINABALU: The Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS), led by Datuk Ir. Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid, recently conducted inspections of major energy projects along Sabah's West Coast, including SPR Energy Power Plant, Kimanis Power Plant, Sabah Oil & Gas Terminal, Tenom Pangi Hydro Station, and new sites in Kimanis. The visits aimed to review project progress, safety, and operational efficiency to ensure stable electricity supply. Two new projects are expected to add 200MW to the grid. Nasser highlighted that these efforts align with the Sabah Government's commitment under the Sabah Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2040 to improve and sustain the state's energy sector through strong collaboration amongst agencies and industry players. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
25-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Sabah ventures into tapping thermal energy from the sea
Published on: Sunday, May 25, 2025 Published on: Sun, May 25, 2025 By: David Thien Text Size: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said these studies will be completed within a year. (AFP pic) THE passing of the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Enactment 2024 in the State Assembly on April 25, last year, makes Sabah the first in Asean to come up with a blueprint on OTEC development. Following Sabah's lead, the Sarawak State Government also announced interest in expanding its renewable energy sources portfolio by tapping ocean thermal energy. OTEC is an innovative technology that converts the sea's thermal energy into electricity. This new cheaper, greener energy from an innovative technology involves harnessing the temperature difference between warm surface seawater and cold deep seawater to generate clean energy. Based on research, Sabah has the potential of generating up to 20,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity, comprising 15,000MW in the west coast waters and 5,000MW in the east coast. But its full implementation is expected to take about five years. 'Sabah is surrounded by vast oceans, making it the ideal location for this technology as research findings have indicated that certain areas in the state have the potential to generate up to 20,000MW of electricity which could be used to produce green hydrogen, a highly sought-after energy source to achieve net zero carbon emissions goals,' said ECoS CEO Datuk Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid. Advertisement 'If we can successfully develop one per cent of 20,000MW, it is already 200MW which is already big. The potential of OTEC is really huge,' he said. The two areas identified as suitable for OTEC development are the South China Sea on the west coast and Tawau-Semporna deep sea on the east coast. Tapping the energy 15km from the shore is seen as the most viable 'low-hanging fruit' compared to doing so 100km offshore. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said this would pave the way for the development of OTEC as a new source of renewable energy and as one of the main initiatives under the State's Blue Economy which was commended by the Prime Minister for its game-changer direction. The development of OTEC technology aligns with the Sabah Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2040 (SE-RAMP 2040) launched in September 2023 to increase the renewable energy mix and identify new energy sources and technologies for the long term. If implemented successfully, OTEC would make a major impact as a sustainable green energy solution desired by all countries. It will help Sabah and Malaysia to achieve some Sustainable Development Goals in its decarbonisation target and increase its renewable energy mix in its energy transition journey towards net zero target. The journey towards achieving net zero carbon emissions has created more innovation, collaboration and inclusivity opportunities. Three Malaysian companies have been authorised to conduct year-long feasibility studies off Tawau-Semporna deep sea waters and submit their plans to the Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS) for approval and implementation. A preliminary feasibility study is also being conducted by the UTM Ocean Thermal Energy Centre, through collaboration between Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) for the development of a potential OTEC plant project in Sabah. 'The Prime Minister acknowledged the importance of Sabah's Blue Economy. A seminar was held as a follow-up to maintain the momentum,' Hajiji said. The seminar being referred to was the 'Sabah International Blue Economy Conference 2024 (SIBEC)' organised by Invest Sabah, ECoS and SMJ Energy last year. 'We want to create awareness on OTEC and its technology which is not new. It will increase our renewable energy mix and position Sabah as such a game changer centre of excellence and a beacon of sustainable resilience as a prime investment destination,' said CEO of Invest Sabah Berhad, Dr Firdausi Suffian. He said this industry would help create jobs and attract direct foreign investments to Sabah with the development of downstream secondary products such as marine culture products and drinking water to further generate economic development to be a powerhouse in Malaysia, strong into innovative, regenerative blue economy drive. Innovative new renewable energy source It is time for Sabahans to think outside the box and be open towards adopting new ways, knowledge and technology to accelerate progress and development. Chief Coordinating Officer of Sabah Maju Jaya Secretariat Datuk (Datu) Rosmadi Datu Sulai, said this to emphasize the state's vision for a regenerative blue economy in his speech at the 'Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Seminar' at the Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort on Wednesday. He underscored the need to transition from traditional industries to innovative, sustainable sectors, which will not only spur economic development but also generate substantial job opportunities for the people of Sabah as Sabah is making significant strides in renewable energy, with a strong focus on Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC). Dr. Firdausi Suffian, Chief Executive Officer of Invest Sabah Berhad, announced that Sabah is leading the way in renewable energy, particularly through its championing of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), establishing itself as a key player in sustainable energy solutions. 'With a focus on creating a favourable business environment, Sabah presents unique opportunities for both local and international investors eager to engage with its rich natural resources and strong infrastructure,' he said. ECoS CEO Datuk Ir. Abdul Nasser bin Abdul Wahid elaborated on the Commission's regulatory role in overseeing OTEC projects. He emphasised the importance of aligning these initiatives with the state's economic interests while ensuring environmental sustainability. 'Identifying potential sites for OTEC development on both the West and East Coasts of Sabah is underway, paving the way for a sustainable energy future,' he said. At the event, industry leaders from Deep Sea Energy Australia, Global OTEC UK, Ocean Thermal Energy Services (OTES), Satu Teguh International Berhad, and Sinar Development & Consultancy Sdn Bhd met to explore OTEC's potential in Sabah. Their discussions covered its technological, economic, and environmental benefits, providing key insights for the region. With strong collaboration between government, industry, and international partners, Sabah is positioning itself as a regional leader in renewable energy. By embracing OTEC, the state aims to foster sustainable growth and gain prominence in the global renewable energy sector. Move can benefit coastal cities, islands FOUNDER and CEO of Global Otec, Dan Grech, said his company's mission is to commercialise Otec so that tropical islands and coastal cities can access cheap, clean and secure energy by replacing fossil fuels. He said Sabah's vast Otec resources can not only power Sabah's clean and green energy demands but also create export opportunities. 'A successful pilot project will unlock direct foreign investment into subsequent projects, attracting billions of dollars of investment to generate clean electricity at scale. 'Public awareness and policy support is crucial as Otec remains relatively unknown, with limited understanding among governments and the public.' He stressed that raising awareness and implementing supportive policies are crucial for accelerating adoption as prototypes and small-scale plants face high capital expenditures (Capex) and cost of energy (LCOS), making private investment challenging without government support and financial incentives. Otec is a century old technology. In the 1880s, at the time when the British North Borneo Chartered Company was set up, French physicist Jacques Arsene d'Arsonval developed the first practical Otec system. By 1930, his student George Claude built the first Otec plant in Cuba. 'During the 1970s and 1980s, the United States and Japan led experimentations with OTEC. Over the years, there have been other small-scale and non-commercial implementations. 'While small scale OTEC projects have proven reliability, such as those in Hawaii and Japan, scaling up to commercial plants – for example, 10 MW, is the technical limit using today's technology,' said Dan. He cited South Korea is testing its 1 MW-sized Otec plant on a barge known as 'K — OTEC1000' since September 2019. 'Otec harnesses the thermal gradient of tropical oceans, providing a continuous, renewable energy source. 'With an estimated global potential of 8,000 GW, Otec could significantly contribute to decarbonisation efforts, promote biodiversity conservation with sustainable resource use and contribute to global climate resilience.' He also said the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion set up off Tawau-Semporna must avoid being sited in contested zones claimed by Indonesia. Malaysia is set to launch its first hybrid Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (H-OTEC) plant, the first in South East Asia soon.
The Star
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Upbeat outlook for PetGas' Labuan power project
PETALING JAYA: Analysts are upbeat about Petronas Gas Bhd 's (PetGas) upcoming power plant project in Labuan. MIDF Research noted that the ever-growing demand for energy security will always support the need for both conventional and clean fuels. As such, it said PetGas' new project is 'appropriate to the times'. 'However, we also note the risks that come with natural gas – largely on the leakages – and how it would impact the operations of power generating plants and the consumers from the domestic, commercial and industrial sectors. 'Nevertheless, we believe that PetGas will continue to take precautions, more so with PETRONAS and the Sabah state government-linked companies overseeing the safety and regulations of Rancha Power plant.' PetGas announced last week that it had entered into shareholders agreements with Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd and Sabah Energy Corp Sdn Bhd to develop a new power plant with a capacity of 120MW in the Federal Territory of Labuan. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, PetGas said the project is pursuant to a letter of notification dated Feb 21 from the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry. 'The parties intend to collaborate via a joint-venture company, namely, Rancha Power Sdn Bhd, for the design, development, construction, installation, testing, commissioning, ownership, operation and maintenance of the said power plant and associated facilities with target of commercial operation date no later than Jan 1, 2028.' PetGas said the project aligns with its strategy to expand its presence in the energy sector and contribute to sustainable energy development in Malaysia. 'This project is expected to enhance the energy supply in Federal Territory of Labuan and Sabah as part of Sabah Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2040. The project will be funded through internally generated funds and external financing,' it said. MIDF Research said this new project is set to surpass the existing capacity of power plants in Labuan, including the Patau-Patau Power Station, which boasted a capacity of 113MW. With PetGas' involvement in the project, MIDF Research anticipates the main feeder for the power generation plant will be natural gas. 'We are positive on this project largely for the use of natural gas, as it has low emissions of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases. 'Additionally, the government had been encouraging the transition to a cleaner fuel for power stations, making this project on par with the National Energy Transition Roadmap and Malaysia Renewable Energy Roadmap,' it said. It is maintaining a 'buy' call on PetGas with a target price of RM18.67.
