KULIM: Technology industrial parks in the country should emulate the Kulim Hi-Tech Park's (KHTP) green energy transition initiative, with the development of a 90MW open cycle turbine gas power plant.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the move is aligned with the government's zero net carbon target at the earliest by 2050, as well as the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP 2030) and the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR).
"Most nations have shifted their attention towards energy security by giving priority to energy, doing away with equity, and implementing a speedy and inclusive transition to provide safer and more sustainable and equitable power in the future.
"The top 10 countries on the Energy Transition Index such as Sweden, Denmark and Norway contributed four percent of the total power supply and two percent of the global population," Fadillah said in his speech the launching of NUR Power Sdn Bhd 90MW open cycle turbine gas power plant in KHTP today.
Present were Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor and state Industry and Investment Committee chairman Dr Haim Hilman, NUR Power managing director Ikhwan Hafiz Jamaludin.
The 90MW open cycle turbine gas power plant is slated to increase NUR Power's power generation capacity to 220MW.
The company is the first IPP in the country, established over 20 years ago as the sole power supplier to KHTP.
Fadillah, who is also the energy transition and water transformation minister, said the policy and direction for the future would be based on the balanced and effective management of energy transition.
"Energy transition will be the pillar in various sectors, including foreign direct investment (FDI) which will encourage green energy, innovation and energy efficiency.
"Massive scale and high technology investment such as Infineon Technologies AG, for example, could only be realised with consistent, stable and reliable power supply to support its operations.
"Therefore, the power infrastructure supplied by NUR Power has enabled disruption-free operation to ensure more efficient production," he said.
Infineon is investing close to RM40 billion to develop the world's largest 200-millimeter silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductor fabrication facility in KHTP.
(LINK: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/08/1088497/pm-infineons-rm34bil-...).
Fadillah said multinational companies are more inclined to look for areas with stable and budget-friendly power supply to minimise the risk of operational disruption and related costs.
That is why, he said, Taiwan, which has emerged as the leader in global semiconductor manufacturing, had invested heavily in its energy infrastructure to support the high-technology industry.
Fadillah expressed confidence that KHTP will retain its position as the most preferred destination among investors by offering world-class infrastructure, efficient energy and competitive tariffs on the peninsula through the commissioning of NUR Power's newest plant.
He said this was affirmed by Kedah's success in retaining its position being one of the states with the highest value of approved investment, for the first quarter of this year.