Energy Info Highlights 2001

As at the end of 2001, Malaysia’s total installed capacity stood at 14,813.1 MW compared with 13,761.7 MW in year 2000. This is partly attributed to the commissioning of the first and second unit of 1 x 500 MW Phase III of Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz coal power plant in 2001. However, electricity generation recorded a decline albeit marginally by 0.5 percent in 2001 lower than an increased of 11.4 percent in 2000. The peak demand for Peninsular Malaysia was at 10,060 MW, Sarawak 543.4 MW and Sabah 263.4 MW. The figures of peak demand for Sarawak and Sabah were based on grid-connected only.

In electricity generation mix; the share of natural gas was at 71.8 percent in 2001 compared with 74.9 percent in 2000. As a result, the proportion of fuel oil and diesel increased from 5.0 percent in 2000 to 6.1 percent in 2001. In addition, the share of coal in electricity generation also increased by 2.3 percent from year 2000 to 2001. Meanwhile the share of hydro remained constant about 10.0 percent in 2001.

The total electricity consumption for Malaysia recorded a growth of 4.5 percent from 60,299 GWh in 2000 to 63,043 GWh in 2001. The growth was due to higher demand by the domestic-oriented industries and the commercial sector despite weakening demand from lower manufacturing activities. During the year, in September 2001, Malaysia hosted the XXI South East Asia Games or SEA Games.

In 2001, total final commercial energy demand was at 31,515 ktoe compared with 29,699 ktoe in 2000. The increased was supported by positive growth in services sector, domestic demand-oriented industries in the manufacturing sector and the construction sector that mitigated weaker growth in the export-oriented National Energy Balance 2001 manufacturing industries. The transport sector still remained its position as the largest consumer of final energy accounting for 42.0 percent in energy consumption in 2001. The industrial’s sector share remained about 37.0 percent and the share of residential and commercial sector remained at about 13.0 percent whereas the agriculture sector at 0.3 percent.

Analysis on the demand for fuel type showed that the share of natural gas increased from 13.0 percent in 2000 to 14.6 percent in 2001 due to the commissioning of two new petrochemical plants located at Kertih, Terengganu and the Centralised Utilities Facilities (CUF) located at Gebeng, Pahang and Kertih, Terengganu. The district cooling system sub-sector, another main domestic user for natural gas that produces chilled water for air-conditioning system and generate electricity for several new business and administration centers in and around Kuala Lumpur, also recorded an increase in demand for gas. Petroleum products was still the dominant fuel in the final use of commercial energy accounting to about 64.5 percent in 2001 compared with 66.8 percent in 2000. The electricity’s share remained at 18.0 percent whereas coal and coke at 3.1 percent during the period.

Overall, growth in the energy sector in 2001 were driven by three key changes, that are, first, the commissioning of first and second unit of 1 x 500 MW coal of the Phase III of Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz power plant, which contributed to the increase in total installed capacity of the power sector. Second, the decrease in the share of natural gas resulting in the increase of share of fuel oil and diesel in power generation. Third, higher demand of natural gas in the industrial sector was due to the commissioning of two new petrochemical plants and the CUF. These activities have contributed towards expansion in the Malaysian energy sector.