Indonesia keen on Bakun power supply

Indonesia is interested in getting power supply from the Bakun hydroelectric dam now being built in Sarawak, Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said today.


He said that Indonesian leaders expressed their interest in the dam supplying power to Kalimantan during his recent visit to Jakarta.

"They believe that the dam will have more than enough power for the whole of Borneo (which comprises Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and Kalimantan)," he told reporters after presenting Chinese New Year hampers to senior citizens in Ipoh, Perak.

The Bakun dam, scheduled to be completed next year, is planned to produce 2,400 megawatts of electricity.

Husni said the Finance Ministry and the Sarawak government were continuing negotiations on the sale of the dam.

"The federal government wants the matter settled quickly so that development can be continually carried out in Sabah and Sarawak," he added.

The Sarawak government had said that it wanted to buy the dam for RM6 billion, but was prepared to raise the bid to RM7 billion depending on the mode of payment.

The overall cost of the dam had been estimated at RM7.3 billion, but this had been exceeded because of several problems that arose during construction.

Husni said the government was planning several projects for Sabah and Sarawak under the New Key Economic Areas programme, but adequate power supply was needed to implement them. -- Bernama

Read more: Indonesia keen on Bakun power supply http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20110130145937/Article/index_html#ixzz1CVdIhrU2

Island are going under the water-Global emergency!

Global warming is major reason to contribute the problem of high sea water level  and there were many isalands submerged in the world.
Go green, Go as vegetalian and save the world!
Click the below link for find which islands were submerged and which part of the world in the alarming high sea level risk..Surprisingly, Dubai is also facing the risk of being submerged by sea water soon..

click below youtube link:
Islands Are Going Under The Water- Global Emergency!!- Must Watch

Spot Solar Panel contest

Do you able to spot a little solar panel in this photo?

First power line from Bakun to Bintulu completed

KUCHING: The first line to transmit power from Bakun dam to Similajau, Bintulu, has been completed while Sarawak Energy Bhd's (SEB) Similajau power sub-station in Bintulu is expected to be ready by March.



Works are now underway to construct a power sub-station within the proposed Samalaju Industrial Park to supply electricity to energy-intensive industries like the aluminium smelting and solar panel plants.

Naim Holdings Bhd corporate services and human resource senior director Ricky Kho said the first 118km long Bakun-Similajau transmission line under Package A was completed six months ago.

“We are now constructing the second parallel transmission line under Package B. This new line is expected to be ready in January next year,” he told StarBizWeek yesterday.

Ricky Kho says Naim is constructing a second parallel transmission.

The transmission lines will be linked to the Bakun switch yard, which is connected to the Bakun power house.

The RM209mil Bakun-Similajau transmission line project is undertaken by a joint-venture between China's Sinohydro Corp and Naim Holdings.


According to Bakun dam developer, Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd, the Bakun dam is expected to produce its first 300MW in six months.

Sarawak Hidro managing director Zulkifle Osman had said wet testing of the first of the eight turbines was expected to be carried out in April when the water level reached between 185m and 190m.

The water level at the dam had now risen to more than 160m since the impoundment started about three months ago.

SEB transmission general manager Victor Wong said the Similajau sub-station project was more than 80% completed, and it would be operational in April.

“All the main structures of the sub-station have been put up, and the contractor is now doing the control wiring,” he added.

The equipment for the sub-station is supplied by Siemens and Areva.

Wong said the Similajau sub-station was designed to handle more than 4,000MW, including all the power produced by the Bakun dam (2,400MW) and Murum dam (944MW ), which is now being built by SEB.

“The Similajau sub-station is part of the state grid, and the bulk of its power will be for use of energy-intensive industries in the Samalaju Industrial Park,” he added.

Wong said these industries would get their power supply from the proposed Samalaju sub-station, expected to be completed next year. SEB plans to develop a 500kV transmission system in stages, in co-ordination with the development of several hydro electric dams in the state.

The current 275kV network will be expanded to tap the 500kV backbone, and to connect all the dams into the state grid system.

Sarawak Hidro is now in advanced negotiations with SEB, which is majority-owned by the Sarawak government, to sell the power from Bakun to the latter.

SEB's wholly-owned Syarikat SESCo generates, transmits, distributes and supplies power to the domestic, commercial and industrial sectors statewide.

On the state's plan to purchase the Bakun Dam, Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud had said the state government was willing to raise its bid for the dam ownership to RM7bil, from an initial RM6bil, if the federal government could offer flexi payment modes such as in the form of a bridging loan.

source :http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/1/15/business/7801343&sec=business

Solar Training- Renewable Energy for the Developing World

We came across an interactive solar training at Costa-Rica -Renewable Energy for the Developing World organized by Solar Energy International

From the below youtube's link, it showed how the participants contribute their efforts and experience in designing and installing solar panel & simple lightings for less privilege home! It really an amazing experience!


Pls click here
Video Clip for Solar Training- Renewable Energy for the Developing World

Economic Transformation Programme: 19 Entry Point Project

Economic Transformation Programme: 19 Entry Point Project
19 Entry Point Projects worth RM67bil involving 10 National Key Economic Areas (NKEAs).

OIL, GAS AND ENERGY

1. ExxonMobil

Investment: Over RM10bil

Project: ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia Inc. and partner Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd to invest in new oil and gas assets to help meet growing energy needs. Involves multiple projects including enhanced oil recovery activities in the Tapis field; and the development of the Telok project.

Start date: Early 2013

2. Shell Malaysia

Investment: RM5.1bil
Project: Upgrade, expand or build facilities in all level of activities across the country. Projects include the expansion of the Shell MDS wax plant in Bintulu, a new diesel processing unit at the Port Dickson Shell Refinery and the Gumusut deepwater development in Sabah.

GNI Impact: RM2.9bil (at plateau production level)

Potential Jobs: 1,650 over the construction period

3. Dialog Group Bhd: Independent Deepwater Petroleum Terminal in Pengerang, Johor
Investment: RM5bil

Project: Develop a terminal with a total petroleum storage capacity of about five million cubic meters.

Potential Jobs (by 2020): 5,000 throughout construction and operation.

4. Malaysia Nuclear Power Corporation



Purpose: Lead planning on possible use of nuclear energy to meet country’s energy demands. Dr Mohd Zamzam Jaafar appointed as the chief executive officer.

Current development timeline: 11 to 12 years from pre-project to commissioning.

BUSINESS SERVICES

Malaysia as a world-class data centre hub



Total Investment: RM671.6mil (3 companies)



Project: Develop new and upgrade current facilities to ensure sufficient data centre floor space to meet increasing demand.

AGRICULTURE

High-value herbal plantation in Pasir Raja GNI Impact (by 2020): RM2.2bil

Project: Cultivate herbs that are in high demand for the production of nutraceuticals and botanical drugs.

Potential Jobs: 285

HEALTHCARE
1. Universiti Malaya Health Metropolis

Investment: RM1.25bil (excluding land costs)

Project: Health Metropolis, which includes a new hospital wing, research and education centre, would be developed as the country’s premier medical hub and as one of the centres of excellence for medicine and bioscience in the region.

Potential Jobs (by 2020): 10,400 in healthcare and support staff.

GNI Impact (by 2020): RM986mil

2. Hovid: Hovid Objective Pharmaceutical

Excellent

GNI Impact: RM50mil

Project: Develop generic drugs including for the treatment of diabetes (Metformin 850mg MR) and painkiller (Tramadol 100mg SR).

Joint project between Hovid Bhd and Winthrop Pharmaceuticals, a subsidiary of Sanofi-Aventis Group.

TOURISM

1. Teluk Datai Development Plan

Investment: RM1bil

Project: Teluk Datai Resorts Sdn Bhd to develop 300 acres of land in Langkawi by 2014. Includes the upgrading of The Datai Hotel and golf course, and development of premium hotels and luxury villas for sale.

2. YTL Group: Pulau Gaya Development

Investment: RM75mil

Project: The construction of a Pulau Gaya Resort in Sabah with a spa village and 132 spacious hillside and sea-front villas.

ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS



AUO Sunpower



Investment: RM2.2bil



Project: Construction of a new solar facility in Malacca to generate more than 1,400 megawatts of high-efficiency solar cells annually. Potential Jobs (by 2012): 4,069



EDUCATION



Skills Malaysia 2011

Purpose: Upgrade unskilled workers and raise awareness of post-SPM education opportunities through roadshows and a skills sompetition.

COMMUNICATIONS CONTENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE

SelecTV: Hospitality IPTV

Investment: RM30mil

Project: Distribute Malaysian content to local and international hotels including in the middle east, Thailand and Indonesia.

GNI Impact: RM90mil

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL

Mines Wellness City by Country Heights Group of Companies
Investment (by 2020): RM3bil

Project: To develop an integrated health and wellness resort as a one-stop destination for modern and complementary medicine.

GNI Impact: RM5bil over 10 years

Potential Jobs: 11,000 over 10 years.


GREATER KL/KLANG VALLEY

1. Damansara City 2
Investment: RM1.9bil

Project: Integrated development in Pusat Bandar Damansara by GuocoLand Malaysia. The next iconic landmark will comprise two office blocks (totalling 845,000 sq feet) and retail blocks (290,000 sq feet), a 300-room hotel and a 260-unit service apartment.

2. Mass Rapid Transit

Investment: RM36.6bil for three lines (without land acquisition and rolling stock)
Project: Connecting Greater KL to ease congestion and increase accessibility to, from and within the city.

GNI Impact: RM21.3bil incremental GNI
Potential Jobs: 130,000 at its peak with multiplier impact.

3. Talent Corporation

Purpose: Implement initiatives to attract best talents to fill the 3.3 million positions to be created by the various National Key Economic Areas (NKEAs).



source: The star
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/1/12/nation/20110112091510&sec=nation

ABB enters US market for electric vehicle infrastructure with ECOtality stake

ABB enters US market for electric vehicle infrastructure with ECOtality stake


ABB invests $10 million and signs accord to supply technology for charging stations

Zurich, Switzerland, Jan. 10, 2011 – ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has invested $10 million in San Francisco-based ECOtality, a clean electric transportation and storage technologies company, to enter North America’s electric vehicle (EV) charging market and provide ECOtality with a strong global ally in power delivery systems.

ECOtality will use the investment to foster its expansion and finance initial requirements of the EV Project, a program to develop electric vehicle infrastructures in 16 major US cities funded by a $115 million grant from the US Department of Energy (DOE). The project involves installation of more than 15,000 chargers to support the deployment of 8,300 electric vehicles.

In addition, the companies have signed an agreement establishing ABB as the preferred supplier for ECOtality’s power electronics and component parts in North America. The companies will work together to develop charging technologies for electric vehicles that incorporate the advanced consumer interface and billing functionalities of ECOtality’s Blink EV charging stations. Through its smart grids industry segment initiative, ABB will contribute its expertise from several projects in Europe involving integration of EV charging solutions.


“The partnership brings together ABB’s experience in smart grids, renewable energy and reliable, efficient power networks, with ECOtality’s leadership in North America’s growing market for electric vehicle infrastructure,” said Brice Koch, head of ABB Marketing and Customer Solutions. “It is an ideal combination of skills that will provide the solutions customers are seeking to enable sustainable mobility while maintaining grid reliability.”


ECOtality, Inc. (NASDAQ: ECTY) has a full range of systems for charging electric vehicles parked at the home or office, or during short stops to “top off” while on longer journeys. ECOtality expects to have the largest installed base of charging stations in the United States in two years through the DOE-funded EV Project, and plans to work with utilities and municipalities to create plug-in ready regions through its proprietary EV Micro-Climate process. The company currently employs about 100 people.


“Together with ABB, we can further expand the possibilities of electric transportation and make mass-consumer adoption a reality,” said Jonathan Read, CEO of ECOtality. “Our North American manufacturing agreement with ABB will allow us to rapidly increase production and expand our business.”


The investment was made through ABB Technology Ventures, the company’s venture capital arm. Related strategic steps during the past 12 months included an investment in Trilliant’s end-to-end system for smart grid communications, and a research and development project with General Motors to investigate energy storage uses for electric vehicle batteries once their useful life in the vehicle is over.


ABB’s smart grid portfolio was strengthened last year with its acquisition of Ventyx, a leading software provider to global energy, utility, communications, and other asset-intensive businesses.

ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 117,000 people.

source :http://www.abb.com/cawp/seitp202/aae0a3860be2e578c12578140035faf8.aspx

Samsung Elec to invest $23 bln in green tech by 2020 -official

SEOUL: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd <005930.KS>, the world's No.1 maker of memory chips and flat screens, will invest $23 billion on environmentally-friendly businesses by 2020, the company's television division chief Yoon Boo-keun said in a statement on Friday, Jan 7.


"Samsung is creating a greener future by actively seeking out greener energy sources such as solar power to replace gas and petroleum," the statement quoted Yoon as saying in a key note speech at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.


South Korea, Asia's fourth-largest economy and heavily dependent on oil and gas imports, set a voluntary 2020 emissions target in 2009 of a 30 percent reduction from its forecast under a business-as-usual scenario.

The government said it would invest 107 trillion won ($95.27 billion), or 2 percent of annual GDP, in environment-related industries through 2013.

Samsung Electronics also said in 2009 that it would invest 5.4 trillion won in green research and development, and facilities to make itself a leading eco-friendly company by 2013.- Reuters

Courtesy from
http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/business-news/179845-samsung-elec-to-invest-23-bln-in-green-tech-by-2020-official.html

The world's of Equivalent-Part 2 What do you know about shower water heater

The power of One shower water heater can easily power up 6 units of 1 HP AC when operating at Eco Mode!

Power Smart- The world's of Equivalent-GO Green

To all,


Just sharing info pertaining to power of Water Heater.

When you taking bath with water heater on, it is equivalent to power up 50 units of 400L Inverter based refrigerator!



Go green and use electricity smartly!



Foo

Drive helps AEON save 10m plastic bags

AEON Co (M) Bhd, which runs the JUSCO supermarket, has been able to reduce 10 million pieces in usage of plastic bags by its customers since the launch of its "No Plastic Bag" campaign in January 2008.


Its general manager (corporate social responsibility and corporate branding), Noryahwati Mohd Noh, said the 10 million reduction in plastic bag usage also helped to save energy of 14,640 litres of petroleum which would be required to produce the plastic bags.

She said that when AEON launched the campaign in 2008, only five per cent of the customers obliged, but now the number had increased to 15 per cent.

Prior to the campaign, AEON gave between 80 and 90 million plastic bags to customers every year, she said at the launch of the state-level "Reduce Use of Plastic Bag" and "No Plastic Bag Day" campaign in Bukit Tinggi in Klang today.

The function was opened by the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry deputy secretary-general (Consumerism and Management), Mahani Tan Abdullah.

Noryahwati said that the company was able to collect RM200,000 from sales of plastic bags on the "No Plastic Bag Day" this year, which is Saturday, where customers would have to pay 20 sen for each plastic bag should they insist on having the plastic bags to put in their purchases if they did not bring their own bags.


"The collection is not to bring in profit for the company because the money is used to finance projects like planting of trees at the AEON Mahkota Cheras and the social project at the Melaka Hospital" she added.

Meanwhile in TERENGGANU, 13 supermarkets in Kuala Terengganu, Dungun and Kemaman have agreed to cooperate with the government to ensure the success of the "Reduce Use of Plastic Bag" campaign.

Terengganu Unity, Health and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Dr A Rahman Mokhtar said effective today, the participating supermarkets would no longer give plastic bags to their customers on Saturday.

"Those who still want the plastic bags will have to pay 20 sen each and the money donated to the Terengganu consumers welfare fund," he added. -- Bernama

Read more: Drive helps AEON save 10m plastic bags http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20110101204927/Article/index_html#ixzz19rHRZdqF

Spike in demand for hybrid cars

Spike in demand for hybrid cars


Honda Malaysia SB and UMW Toyota Motor SB have recorded combined bookings of nearly 1,500 units for their Honda Insight and Toyota Prius hybrid models respectively in the span of less than 3 months. The bookings, if they were to materialize into sales, would represent a significant jump compared with just the 297 total hybrid units sold in the whole of 2009. (StarBiz)