PETALING JAYA: Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) said it has no knowledge of any plan to break-up the power company into three units to reform the energy sector.
It said this in a filing with Bursa Malaysia in responding to a news article that a proposal on the break-up was being looking into.
The company said this “was never discussed with TNB and that TNB has no knowledge of this matter”.
On Wednesday, StarBiz quoted Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry secretary-general Datuk Loo Took Gee as saying that the Government was looking into the proposal to split TNB into the three units but said the matter was “under study” and declined to elaborate further.
Source:The star
Friday, September 30, 2011
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Cypark, LG in solar farm deal
SEREMBAN: Cypark Resources Bhd, the country's largest publicly traded renewable energy company, has signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korea's LG Electronics to help develop a solar farm in Pajam, Negri Sembilan.
Under the deal, the South Korean company will become Cypark's technology partner and EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contractor for the RM94 million solar project.
Cypark had on Thursday, after the market close, sought a one-day trading suspension, presumably to announce the deal.
Yesterday, the company signed a financing agreement with HSBC Amanah Malaysia to finance the Pajam plant.
It also announced that the company had received a letter from the state government, granting rights for a 21-year lease of the land.
Chief executive officer Daud Ahmad explained that the bulk of the capital expenditure for the project is via debt.
Cypark has secured RM75 million financing loan from HSBC Amanah for the project, while the balance RM19 million will come from internally generated funds.
The solar park will be developed in three stages on a 12.15ha land and will consist of two plants, which will eventually be connected to the power grid.
The first phase, a 160 kilowatt solar project, was launched in March by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak
The second phase, an eight megawatt (MW) solar energy plant, will start operating in December, while the third phase for a 2MW biogas energy will be operational by March 2012.
"Currently, we are connecting in progress ... It is very important that we do the first phase because the first phase will set whether the remaining of the other phases is viable," Daud said.
He also said renewable energy will become a major contributor to Cypark's revenue.
He expects the energy business to generate some RM20 million a year for the company.
"Our main focus will be on the landfills in Negri Sembilan before moving into land in states such as Perlis and Terengganu," he said
Read more: Cypark, LG in solar farm deal http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/cypark2/Article/index_html#ixzz1YrQwMMIC
Under the deal, the South Korean company will become Cypark's technology partner and EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contractor for the RM94 million solar project.
Cypark had on Thursday, after the market close, sought a one-day trading suspension, presumably to announce the deal.
Yesterday, the company signed a financing agreement with HSBC Amanah Malaysia to finance the Pajam plant.
It also announced that the company had received a letter from the state government, granting rights for a 21-year lease of the land.
Chief executive officer Daud Ahmad explained that the bulk of the capital expenditure for the project is via debt.
Cypark has secured RM75 million financing loan from HSBC Amanah for the project, while the balance RM19 million will come from internally generated funds.
The solar park will be developed in three stages on a 12.15ha land and will consist of two plants, which will eventually be connected to the power grid.
The first phase, a 160 kilowatt solar project, was launched in March by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak
The second phase, an eight megawatt (MW) solar energy plant, will start operating in December, while the third phase for a 2MW biogas energy will be operational by March 2012.
"Currently, we are connecting in progress ... It is very important that we do the first phase because the first phase will set whether the remaining of the other phases is viable," Daud said.
He also said renewable energy will become a major contributor to Cypark's revenue.
He expects the energy business to generate some RM20 million a year for the company.
"Our main focus will be on the landfills in Negri Sembilan before moving into land in states such as Perlis and Terengganu," he said
Read more: Cypark, LG in solar farm deal http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/cypark2/Article/index_html#ixzz1YrQwMMIC
Gas shortage, fuel cost affecting rating performance of TNB
PETALING JAYA: Gas supply shortage and high fuel cost are affecting Tenaga Nasional Bhd's (TNB) rating performance, with analysts dowgrading the stock on concern that solutions are nowhere to be seen.
TNB closed at RM5.02 yesterday, up two sen, with 3.98 million shares changing hands.
ECM Libra Investment Research, in its downgrade of TNB to “hold”, noted heightened risks as a result of the prolonged gas curtailment.
This was following a news report that TNB had bought 105,000 tonnes of fuel for October delivery and expected to continue purchasing steady volumes until next year.
ECM Libra said the news signalled that the much-awaited gas recovery at the Bekok C field, offshore Terengganu, had been delayed again.
"The previous timeline for Bekok C gas to be back online was by end-September. With this latest purchase of oil delivery in October, it looks very likely that the gas recovery has yet again been delayed,” it said.
TNB had estimated that for every 100 million standard cu ft per day of gas shortage that was met by burning oil and distillates (which was six times more expensive), the negative impact to the bottom line was about RM7mil to RM7.5mil a day.
Chief executive officer Datuk Seri Che Khalib Mohd Noh was quoted in the media as saying that TNB was incurring an additional RM400mil a month in fuel cost to replace the gas shortfall.
“On a separate note, the utility giant has realised its 11-month electricity sales figures, which showed a year-on-year unit demand growth of 3%.
“This is within our full-year estimate of 2.2%. August's demand is expected to be weak due to the Hari Raya festive season,” ECM Libra said.
The brokerage has pegged the utility's financial year 2012 (FY12) earnings per share estimate to a lower price/earnings multiple of 12.8 times, which was a 15% discount to the five-year average of 15 times.
“We currently do not have good visibility as to when the gas shortage issue will be solved. The many delays in getting back gas supply from Bekok C field have been disappointing,” it said.
“Right now, nobody knows for sure when the Bekok C gas field will be back online or whether Petroliam Nasional Bhd's gas fields will have further unplanned maintenance shutdowns.”
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Kenanga Research downgraded TNB to “underweight” from “neutral” as the utility company faced longer-than-expected gas supply curtailments.
This was largely due to the delay in the Bekok gas line, resulting in higher usage of medium fuel oil and diesel fuels which, based on per unit cost, is six times higher than that of gas, it said.
TNB closed at RM5.02 yesterday, up two sen, with 3.98 million shares changing hands.
ECM Libra Investment Research, in its downgrade of TNB to “hold”, noted heightened risks as a result of the prolonged gas curtailment.
This was following a news report that TNB had bought 105,000 tonnes of fuel for October delivery and expected to continue purchasing steady volumes until next year.
ECM Libra said the news signalled that the much-awaited gas recovery at the Bekok C field, offshore Terengganu, had been delayed again.
"The previous timeline for Bekok C gas to be back online was by end-September. With this latest purchase of oil delivery in October, it looks very likely that the gas recovery has yet again been delayed,” it said.
TNB had estimated that for every 100 million standard cu ft per day of gas shortage that was met by burning oil and distillates (which was six times more expensive), the negative impact to the bottom line was about RM7mil to RM7.5mil a day.
Chief executive officer Datuk Seri Che Khalib Mohd Noh was quoted in the media as saying that TNB was incurring an additional RM400mil a month in fuel cost to replace the gas shortfall.
“On a separate note, the utility giant has realised its 11-month electricity sales figures, which showed a year-on-year unit demand growth of 3%.
“This is within our full-year estimate of 2.2%. August's demand is expected to be weak due to the Hari Raya festive season,” ECM Libra said.
The brokerage has pegged the utility's financial year 2012 (FY12) earnings per share estimate to a lower price/earnings multiple of 12.8 times, which was a 15% discount to the five-year average of 15 times.
“We currently do not have good visibility as to when the gas shortage issue will be solved. The many delays in getting back gas supply from Bekok C field have been disappointing,” it said.
“Right now, nobody knows for sure when the Bekok C gas field will be back online or whether Petroliam Nasional Bhd's gas fields will have further unplanned maintenance shutdowns.”
Meanwhile, on Thursday, Kenanga Research downgraded TNB to “underweight” from “neutral” as the utility company faced longer-than-expected gas supply curtailments.
This was largely due to the delay in the Bekok gas line, resulting in higher usage of medium fuel oil and diesel fuels which, based on per unit cost, is six times higher than that of gas, it said.
Exim Bank evaluates RM500m green loans
KUALA LUMPUR: Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Bhd (Exim
Bank) is evaluating loan applications close to RM500 million for green echnology projects in sync with the government’s call for financial nstitutions to support such projects.
Managing director and chief executive officer Adissadikin Ali said the bank ad received several applications from Malaysian companies involved in green echnology projects overseas particularly in the Asian region.
"We are currently evaluating loan applications for construction of public housing projects using the industrialised building systems (IBS) concept in a few countries in South Asia, the Middle East and Australasia,” he told BERNAMA.
Adissadikin said over the last three months, the company received many enquiries for green technology and renewable energy projects in some Asian countries and these include mini-hydro, biomass and incinerator projects.
He is bullish on the green technology sector and expects to receive overwhelming response from domestic firms for such projects.
"The world is going green and the first to go green are the developed countries. The developing and less-developed nations will follow suit,” he said.
Adissadikin also said Exim Bank, which sees a growing number of loan applications for cross-border trade finance, targets 30 per cent of its total loans to be approved next year to come from the sector.
The bank aims to approve deals worth RM3 billion for next year. “We are growing our trade financing numbers. There are now demand for trade finance from non-traditional markets like Kazakhstan,” he said.
For the last six months, trade finance projects made up about 40 per cent of the RM1.7 billion that was sanctioned to finance 54 deals, he said.
"These are financing for Malaysian companies such as the small-and medium-sized-enterprises (SMEs) that produced locally and sell overseas.
They are involved in palm oil, processed rubber and other products that are manufactured locally and exported.
The major destination of palm oil is the traditional export market for Malaysia, particularly China, India and other developed countries,” he said.
Adissadikin also said the current world economic situation may not severely affect the bank as the slowdown has also hit other parts of the world, mainly in Europe and the United States.
"Asia is still going strong and 60 per cent of our exposure is in Asia,” he added. - Bernama
Read more: Exim Bank evaluates RM500m green loans http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20110921110716/Article/index_html#ixzz1YpHd0F9c
Bank) is evaluating loan applications close to RM500 million for green echnology projects in sync with the government’s call for financial nstitutions to support such projects.
Managing director and chief executive officer Adissadikin Ali said the bank ad received several applications from Malaysian companies involved in green echnology projects overseas particularly in the Asian region.
"We are currently evaluating loan applications for construction of public housing projects using the industrialised building systems (IBS) concept in a few countries in South Asia, the Middle East and Australasia,” he told BERNAMA.
Adissadikin said over the last three months, the company received many enquiries for green technology and renewable energy projects in some Asian countries and these include mini-hydro, biomass and incinerator projects.
He is bullish on the green technology sector and expects to receive overwhelming response from domestic firms for such projects.
"The world is going green and the first to go green are the developed countries. The developing and less-developed nations will follow suit,” he said.
Adissadikin also said Exim Bank, which sees a growing number of loan applications for cross-border trade finance, targets 30 per cent of its total loans to be approved next year to come from the sector.
The bank aims to approve deals worth RM3 billion for next year. “We are growing our trade financing numbers. There are now demand for trade finance from non-traditional markets like Kazakhstan,” he said.
For the last six months, trade finance projects made up about 40 per cent of the RM1.7 billion that was sanctioned to finance 54 deals, he said.
"These are financing for Malaysian companies such as the small-and medium-sized-enterprises (SMEs) that produced locally and sell overseas.
They are involved in palm oil, processed rubber and other products that are manufactured locally and exported.
The major destination of palm oil is the traditional export market for Malaysia, particularly China, India and other developed countries,” he said.
Adissadikin also said the current world economic situation may not severely affect the bank as the slowdown has also hit other parts of the world, mainly in Europe and the United States.
"Asia is still going strong and 60 per cent of our exposure is in Asia,” he added. - Bernama
Read more: Exim Bank evaluates RM500m green loans http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20110921110716/Article/index_html#ixzz1YpHd0F9c
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Those with energy bills of between RM3 and RM285 can claim RM200 rebate
PUTRAJAYA: From today, more people can qualify for the RM200 government rebate when they buy energy-efficient refrigerators.
The Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry has decided to allow those with energy bills of between RM3 and RM285 per month to claim the RM200 rebate for refrigerators it rates as effi-cient.
Previously, only households in peninsular Malaysia with energy bills of between RM43.60 and RM117 per month could claim the rebate when buying new refrigerators.
Consumers can also look forward to more choices for refrigerators under the rebate programme as the ministry is including more brands. Currently, it only covers 12 brands.
The ministry's Sustainability Achieved via Energy Efficiency (SAVE) programme head Zaini Abdul Wahab said it was important to extend the eligibility for the rebates as Malaysia was now becoming a “dumping ground” for non-energy saving appliances.
“In the future, only products with a certain efficiency level will be able to enter our market. Many other countries are already doing this,” he said, adding that the Government wanted to regulate the market in terms of energy performance.
He said allowing more people to enjoy the rebates would also increase awareness among Malaysians on the importance of saving energy.
Zaini said the original power usage range under the programme between 200 and 400kWh per month had been introduced to encourage middle-class households to buy energy-efficient appliances.
He said since the programme was launched on July 7, more than 17,000 customers had downloaded and printed the SAVE rebate coupons from its website at www.saveenergy.gov.my.
“The response has been positive. Of those who printed coupons, 77% bough a five-star rated electrical appliance.
“The ministry will now open the offer to more households by expanding the qualifying range to 0-800kwh power usage per month, which means an energy bill of between RM3 to RM285,” said Zaini.
Under the programme, consumers can download the rebates of RM200 for refrigerators and RM100 for air-conditioners from the website.
However, although the qualification for the RM100 rebate for air-conditioners is automatic, not every household in the peninsula can be eligible for the refrigerator rebate, unlike households in Sabah and Sarawak.
He said one reason that all households were automatically eligible for air-conditioner rebates was because the market in Malaysia was growing very quickly.
“We feel that the rebates for refrigerators and air-conditioners are sufficient for now because these two are our biggest markets. We cannot afford to offer rebates for every appliance,” he said.
The rebate is one-off and the downloaded voucher is valid for only a certain period. Once it expires, consumers cannot download the voucher again.
Consumers need only enter their Tenaga Nasional account number at the website to see if they qualify before they can download and print the voucher.
Currently, 4,000 retail outlets are registered for the programmes.
SAVE has set aside RM41mil for the rebate programme for consumers including RM14.4mil for energy-efficient chillers for commercial users like shopping malls and hotels.
source : The Star
The Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry has decided to allow those with energy bills of between RM3 and RM285 per month to claim the RM200 rebate for refrigerators it rates as effi-cient.
Previously, only households in peninsular Malaysia with energy bills of between RM43.60 and RM117 per month could claim the rebate when buying new refrigerators.
Consumers can also look forward to more choices for refrigerators under the rebate programme as the ministry is including more brands. Currently, it only covers 12 brands.
The ministry's Sustainability Achieved via Energy Efficiency (SAVE) programme head Zaini Abdul Wahab said it was important to extend the eligibility for the rebates as Malaysia was now becoming a “dumping ground” for non-energy saving appliances.
“In the future, only products with a certain efficiency level will be able to enter our market. Many other countries are already doing this,” he said, adding that the Government wanted to regulate the market in terms of energy performance.
He said allowing more people to enjoy the rebates would also increase awareness among Malaysians on the importance of saving energy.
Zaini said the original power usage range under the programme between 200 and 400kWh per month had been introduced to encourage middle-class households to buy energy-efficient appliances.
He said since the programme was launched on July 7, more than 17,000 customers had downloaded and printed the SAVE rebate coupons from its website at www.saveenergy.gov.my.
“The response has been positive. Of those who printed coupons, 77% bough a five-star rated electrical appliance.
“The ministry will now open the offer to more households by expanding the qualifying range to 0-800kwh power usage per month, which means an energy bill of between RM3 to RM285,” said Zaini.
Under the programme, consumers can download the rebates of RM200 for refrigerators and RM100 for air-conditioners from the website.
However, although the qualification for the RM100 rebate for air-conditioners is automatic, not every household in the peninsula can be eligible for the refrigerator rebate, unlike households in Sabah and Sarawak.
He said one reason that all households were automatically eligible for air-conditioner rebates was because the market in Malaysia was growing very quickly.
“We feel that the rebates for refrigerators and air-conditioners are sufficient for now because these two are our biggest markets. We cannot afford to offer rebates for every appliance,” he said.
The rebate is one-off and the downloaded voucher is valid for only a certain period. Once it expires, consumers cannot download the voucher again.
Consumers need only enter their Tenaga Nasional account number at the website to see if they qualify before they can download and print the voucher.
Currently, 4,000 retail outlets are registered for the programmes.
SAVE has set aside RM41mil for the rebate programme for consumers including RM14.4mil for energy-efficient chillers for commercial users like shopping malls and hotels.
source : The Star
Monday, September 19, 2011
California schools saving with Solar Power
Courtesy: CNN
(CNN) -- California schools are hurting. Budget cuts in the millions are causing school districts to find ways to save cash.
Some schools have laid off staff. Others have increased class sizes. And some have spent millions on solar panels to trim their electricity bills.
With the help of low-interest loans from the federal government, the San Ramon Valley Unified School
District installed 10,000 photovoltaic panels at five schools.
It was one of 90 systems in California, including some colleges, to do so.
Those panels should create enough electricity to offset 67% to 75% of each school's electrical use, a San Ramon Valley official said. The savings initially will be used to pay back the loans, which came from federal stimulus funds, officials said.
My favourite comment: " Until the Chinese got involved big-time, the price of photovoltaics dropped about 10 percent over a twenty-five year period, In the last two years, they have dropped 70 percent. Good for the Chinese."
Some people claim this is a bad business move, let's see what they say in 6 years time when the solar installation has been paid off! I personally think this is a great move for the long term.
Best Regards,
Mark & Michael,
The Greencrusader.org Team
(CNN) -- California schools are hurting. Budget cuts in the millions are causing school districts to find ways to save cash.
Some schools have laid off staff. Others have increased class sizes. And some have spent millions on solar panels to trim their electricity bills.
With the help of low-interest loans from the federal government, the San Ramon Valley Unified School
District installed 10,000 photovoltaic panels at five schools.
It was one of 90 systems in California, including some colleges, to do so.
Those panels should create enough electricity to offset 67% to 75% of each school's electrical use, a San Ramon Valley official said. The savings initially will be used to pay back the loans, which came from federal stimulus funds, officials said.
My favourite comment: " Until the Chinese got involved big-time, the price of photovoltaics dropped about 10 percent over a twenty-five year period, In the last two years, they have dropped 70 percent. Good for the Chinese."
Some people claim this is a bad business move, let's see what they say in 6 years time when the solar installation has been paid off! I personally think this is a great move for the long term.
Best Regards,
Mark & Michael,
The Greencrusader.org Team
Saturday, September 17, 2011
TNB to issue RM5bil sukuk for Janamanjung plant soon
PETALING JAYA: Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) will raise RM5bil from a 20-year ringgit-denominated sukuk issuance at the end of next month to finance the extension of its Janamanjung power plant.
This comes at a time when the national utility company is facing a severe gas supply shortage that may result in it incurring additional fuel cost.
In a Bernama report on Thursday, TNB president and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Che Khalib Mohd Noh said the group would do its book-building exercise in the third week of October. “The timing is good as the domestic market is now flush with liquidity,” he said.
In April, TNB awarded French group Alstom a 650-million-euro (RM2.8bil) contract to build the Janamanjung 1,000-MW supercritical coal-fired power plant.
Alstom will engineer, procure, construct and commission a 1,000-MW steam turbine, a generator, a supercritical boiler and auxiliaries. The plant is expected to come online in 2015.
The plant will be the single largest in South-East Asia and will produce enough electricity to power nearly two million households in the country.
The project follows TNB's 1999 contract with Alstom to build the currently operating 2,100-MW Manjung coal-fired power plant.
The supercritical power plant operates at a higher temperature than regular coal-fired power plants. Its high temperature increases the pressure at which it operates, which in turn improves its efficiency, increasing the amount of power output and decreasing emission per unit of fuel burned.
Meanwhile, TNB is still bogged down by cost concerns whereby it may incur additional fuel costs of up to RM3bil.
On Tuesday, Che Khalib said the company's fourth-quarter performance would be weak and his earnings estimate for 2011 had gone haywire and had been cut by more than 50%, marred by a continued gas supply shortage.
Analysts have said the gas shortage might only be permanently resolved by the second half of 2012, when Petronas Gas' regasification terminal in Malacca was operational and Malaysia started importing liquefied natural gas at market prices.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/9/17/business/9517953&sec=business
This comes at a time when the national utility company is facing a severe gas supply shortage that may result in it incurring additional fuel cost.
In a Bernama report on Thursday, TNB president and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Che Khalib Mohd Noh said the group would do its book-building exercise in the third week of October. “The timing is good as the domestic market is now flush with liquidity,” he said.
In April, TNB awarded French group Alstom a 650-million-euro (RM2.8bil) contract to build the Janamanjung 1,000-MW supercritical coal-fired power plant.
Alstom will engineer, procure, construct and commission a 1,000-MW steam turbine, a generator, a supercritical boiler and auxiliaries. The plant is expected to come online in 2015.
The plant will be the single largest in South-East Asia and will produce enough electricity to power nearly two million households in the country.
The project follows TNB's 1999 contract with Alstom to build the currently operating 2,100-MW Manjung coal-fired power plant.
The supercritical power plant operates at a higher temperature than regular coal-fired power plants. Its high temperature increases the pressure at which it operates, which in turn improves its efficiency, increasing the amount of power output and decreasing emission per unit of fuel burned.
Meanwhile, TNB is still bogged down by cost concerns whereby it may incur additional fuel costs of up to RM3bil.
On Tuesday, Che Khalib said the company's fourth-quarter performance would be weak and his earnings estimate for 2011 had gone haywire and had been cut by more than 50%, marred by a continued gas supply shortage.
Analysts have said the gas shortage might only be permanently resolved by the second half of 2012, when Petronas Gas' regasification terminal in Malacca was operational and Malaysia started importing liquefied natural gas at market prices.
http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/9/17/business/9517953&sec=business
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Proton goes electric
PUTRAJAYA: Proton Holdings Bhd’s global compact electric and hybrid car, Emas, could enter the market in two to three years, its chairman, Datuk Seri Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh, said.
The electric vehicle, designed by Italdesign Giugiaro and developed by Proton, was first unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show last year.
Emas, short for Eco Mobility Advance Solution, is a plug-in electric vehicle (EV) or hybrid Range Extender Electric Vehicle (REEV).
The compact car’s powertrain could include a turbocharged small engine of 1.2-litre capacity, or lower.
Proton is currently fleet-testing the Exora REEV and Saga EV to assess their potential.
The national car maker yesterday handed over five Exora REEVs and three Saga EVs to the government to be test driven. This would be the first step before mass-producing them.
The vehicles were received by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in a ceremony witnessed by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is also Proton’s adviser.
Others who took delivery of the vehicles at the PM’s Department were Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui, Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah, Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir and Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri.
This is the first phase of fleet testing, a collaboration between Proton, the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry and International Trade and Industry Ministry.
Nadzmi said 250 electric-powered cars would be handed to the government in phases for fleet-testing by the year-end or early next year.
“We want to deliver them as fast as possible.”
Proton will get feedback from the testing, covering the technological aspects, design and performance of the vehicles.
Charging stations provided by Proton will be at the Prime Minister’s Department and the four minis tries.
The Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry, in a statement, said that a charging system for home use would be supplied to motorists who will be identified from the PM’s Department and the four ministries.
According to Dr Mahathir, Proton took three years to develop the vehicles.
“We hope that Proton will one day produce trucks and buses using this system which reduces the use of petrol by relying on batteries to power the engine.”
Read more: Proton goes electric http://www.nst.com.my/articles/Protongoeselectric/Article//Article#ixzz1XykP2yVP
The electric vehicle, designed by Italdesign Giugiaro and developed by Proton, was first unveiled at the Geneva International Motor Show last year.
Emas, short for Eco Mobility Advance Solution, is a plug-in electric vehicle (EV) or hybrid Range Extender Electric Vehicle (REEV).
The compact car’s powertrain could include a turbocharged small engine of 1.2-litre capacity, or lower.
Proton is currently fleet-testing the Exora REEV and Saga EV to assess their potential.
The national car maker yesterday handed over five Exora REEVs and three Saga EVs to the government to be test driven. This would be the first step before mass-producing them.
The vehicles were received by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in a ceremony witnessed by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is also Proton’s adviser.
Others who took delivery of the vehicles at the PM’s Department were Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui, Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah, Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir and Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri.
This is the first phase of fleet testing, a collaboration between Proton, the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry and International Trade and Industry Ministry.
Nadzmi said 250 electric-powered cars would be handed to the government in phases for fleet-testing by the year-end or early next year.
“We want to deliver them as fast as possible.”
Proton will get feedback from the testing, covering the technological aspects, design and performance of the vehicles.
Charging stations provided by Proton will be at the Prime Minister’s Department and the four minis tries.
The Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry, in a statement, said that a charging system for home use would be supplied to motorists who will be identified from the PM’s Department and the four ministries.
According to Dr Mahathir, Proton took three years to develop the vehicles.
“We hope that Proton will one day produce trucks and buses using this system which reduces the use of petrol by relying on batteries to power the engine.”
Read more: Proton goes electric http://www.nst.com.my/articles/Protongoeselectric/Article//Article#ixzz1XykP2yVP
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
TNB: Gas shortage may force us to borrow
Kuala Lumpur: For the first time ever, Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) may have to go to the banks to seek money for its operational expenditure if the gas supply shortage persists next year.
TNB president and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh said the company had spent close to RM2.1 billion from January 2010 to August this year to substitute gas with distillates (diesel) as a temporary measure.
Distillates cost five times more than gas.
"We have never asked for opex (operational expenditure) before. This would be our first time ever. All this while we kept going to the banks for capex (capital expenditure)," he told reporters after TNB's Hari Raya Open House yesterday.
We cannot go on like this. Right now, the additional cost is being incurred by us through our reserves. We used to have RM5 billion (in reserves) which have depleted and we cannot finance that kind of money for next year all by ourselves anymore," Che Khalib added.
TNB has proposed to the government that the extra fuel costs be shared between the utility, Petronas and IPPs (independent power producers).
"This is bleeding the company now. If that proposal comes through, then we won't go to the banks for opex, but if it doesn't, then we have no choice, but to head to the banks," he added.
TNB expects the cost for distillates to reach an estimated RM3 billion by the end of this year.
"This is why we don't think we can do well this year. Don't expect our fourth quarter results to be good, it will be bad or possibly the worst ever result," Che Khalib added.
However, he said consumers will not have to worry because any additional cost will not be passed on to them.
The gas problem would only end after Malaysia's first liquefied natural gas import terminal in Malacca is up by next July.
"We really hope it comes up on time," he added.
Read more: TNB: Gas shortage may force us to borrow http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/jrtnb/Article/index_html#ixzz1Xt8nLv8w
TNB president and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh said the company had spent close to RM2.1 billion from January 2010 to August this year to substitute gas with distillates (diesel) as a temporary measure.
Distillates cost five times more than gas.
"We have never asked for opex (operational expenditure) before. This would be our first time ever. All this while we kept going to the banks for capex (capital expenditure)," he told reporters after TNB's Hari Raya Open House yesterday.
We cannot go on like this. Right now, the additional cost is being incurred by us through our reserves. We used to have RM5 billion (in reserves) which have depleted and we cannot finance that kind of money for next year all by ourselves anymore," Che Khalib added.
TNB has proposed to the government that the extra fuel costs be shared between the utility, Petronas and IPPs (independent power producers).
"This is bleeding the company now. If that proposal comes through, then we won't go to the banks for opex, but if it doesn't, then we have no choice, but to head to the banks," he added.
TNB expects the cost for distillates to reach an estimated RM3 billion by the end of this year.
"This is why we don't think we can do well this year. Don't expect our fourth quarter results to be good, it will be bad or possibly the worst ever result," Che Khalib added.
However, he said consumers will not have to worry because any additional cost will not be passed on to them.
The gas problem would only end after Malaysia's first liquefied natural gas import terminal in Malacca is up by next July.
"We really hope it comes up on time," he added.
Read more: TNB: Gas shortage may force us to borrow http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/jrtnb/Article/index_html#ixzz1Xt8nLv8w
Monday, September 12, 2011
KL to go car-free for a day
KUALA LUMPUR: Could city folk, particularly those in congested business districts, be willing to do without their cars for only one day -- the World Car-Free Day on Sept 22?
Although awareness of environmental concerns brought about by emissions and the need to ease traffic congestion seemed to be on the rise, little efforts to garner public involvement towards solutions have been in place.
The Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) is calling attention to the World Car-Free Day from the public and the authorities.
"This is now a global effort, but so far, Malaysia has never been part of the World Car-Free Day, let alone organise our own car-free days," said MNCF deputy president Datuk Naim Mohamad.
The World Car-Free Day was initiated in 1994 upon a presentation by the EcoPlan team at the International Accessible Cities Conference in Toledo, Spain.
The project states that car-free days should generally be held on Thursdays as they demonstrate the effects of doing without cars on a regular working day.
This has resulted in cities around the world, even some of the most congested like, Jakarta, adopting the project, either on a once-a-year basis, or with more frequency.
Jakarta holds car-free days on Sundays fortnightly, where a triangular connection of the city's three busiest roads are closed to motorised vehicles.
Millions of the city's inhabitants swarm those streets to cycle and jog on those car-free Sundays.
"A car-free day is when people do without cars and find other means of commuting, be it by public transport, bicycles or a combination of the two," said Naim.
He added that the MNCF had been part of discussions to conduct programmes with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall and other government agencies to promote bicycles as a healthy and environmentally-friendly means of commuting.
"Nothing has been done before, but we can start with this year's World Car-Free Day. The government, too, has to take notice."
Naim said the MNCF's Cycling For All Committee was willing to work with the government and the public to draw up plans to ensure cities were made more conducive for those willing to commute by bicycles.
"The public transport system needs to be more bicycle-friendly.
"We need to find out what the barriers are and propose projects to solve these issues. The public needs to be heard and the government needs to listen."
The MNCF has monitored the growth in the recreational segment of cycling and believes there is room for such an idea to be developed.
"A number of corporate figures and even politicians are avid cyclists who cycle for fitness," said Naim.
"We have respected figures who can set the example, but whether they see their bicycle as a suitable mode of commuting remains to be seen."
Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek will begin his quest to lead by example today, when his entourage rides from his office in Putrajaya to Bukit Jalil, where he will evaluate the progress on the ministry's Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house venue.
Read more: KL to go car-free for a day http://www.nst.com.my/articles/6cars/Article//Article#ixzz1XhJE29mK
Although awareness of environmental concerns brought about by emissions and the need to ease traffic congestion seemed to be on the rise, little efforts to garner public involvement towards solutions have been in place.
The Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) is calling attention to the World Car-Free Day from the public and the authorities.
"This is now a global effort, but so far, Malaysia has never been part of the World Car-Free Day, let alone organise our own car-free days," said MNCF deputy president Datuk Naim Mohamad.
The World Car-Free Day was initiated in 1994 upon a presentation by the EcoPlan team at the International Accessible Cities Conference in Toledo, Spain.
The project states that car-free days should generally be held on Thursdays as they demonstrate the effects of doing without cars on a regular working day.
This has resulted in cities around the world, even some of the most congested like, Jakarta, adopting the project, either on a once-a-year basis, or with more frequency.
Jakarta holds car-free days on Sundays fortnightly, where a triangular connection of the city's three busiest roads are closed to motorised vehicles.
Millions of the city's inhabitants swarm those streets to cycle and jog on those car-free Sundays.
"A car-free day is when people do without cars and find other means of commuting, be it by public transport, bicycles or a combination of the two," said Naim.
He added that the MNCF had been part of discussions to conduct programmes with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall and other government agencies to promote bicycles as a healthy and environmentally-friendly means of commuting.
"Nothing has been done before, but we can start with this year's World Car-Free Day. The government, too, has to take notice."
Naim said the MNCF's Cycling For All Committee was willing to work with the government and the public to draw up plans to ensure cities were made more conducive for those willing to commute by bicycles.
"The public transport system needs to be more bicycle-friendly.
"We need to find out what the barriers are and propose projects to solve these issues. The public needs to be heard and the government needs to listen."
The MNCF has monitored the growth in the recreational segment of cycling and believes there is room for such an idea to be developed.
"A number of corporate figures and even politicians are avid cyclists who cycle for fitness," said Naim.
"We have respected figures who can set the example, but whether they see their bicycle as a suitable mode of commuting remains to be seen."
Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek will begin his quest to lead by example today, when his entourage rides from his office in Putrajaya to Bukit Jalil, where he will evaluate the progress on the ministry's Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house venue.
Read more: KL to go car-free for a day http://www.nst.com.my/articles/6cars/Article//Article#ixzz1XhJE29mK
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