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Energy Cooperation

From Jakarta to East Kalimantan: Will Malaysia benefit from Indonesia’s new capital?

1 September 2019

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Malaysia

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 1 — Indonesia’s president Joko Widodo or Jokowi, has proposed for East Kalimantan, the richest and most bustling of the five provinces, to replace Jakarta as the country’s new capital.

Given its location, is this a move that can benefit neighbouring East Malaysian states Sabah and Sarawak?

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak economist Rayenda Khresna Brahmana said that in general, the new capital city development will not bring much impact for Malaysia in the short run, and only time can tell how much it can gain in the long term, depending on its growth.

“I don’t think there will be much impact for Malaysia within the next five years. But there is also no need to wait for the new capital city to grow for the spillover effect. As long as Kalimantan is developing within these five years, there will be a huge impact for Malaysia.

“But I am quite pessimistic because Kalimantan is lacking in infrastructure and human capital,” he said.

Indonesia’s Kalimantan takes up approximately 73 per cent of Borneo island while Sabah and Sarawak take up 26 per cent followed by Brunei’s one per cent.

All of Kalimantan’ provinces are focused on coal and gold mining, plantations and the timber industry which stand to change if the capital moves in, bringing some 1.5 million people of mostly government workers and support industries.

With no connection, trade is stagnant

“East Kalimantan is nearer to Sabah than Sarawak but either way, there are currently no proper highways that connect to Sabah which is a hurdle for trade and other cross border benefits.

“The Pan Borneo and Trans Kalimantan Project are in progress, but plans to connect them are just plans so far. This explains why the trade between Sabah and Sarawak and Kalimantan is not massive and significant,” said Brahmana.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah economist James Alin said that although the move will bring Jokowi some political stability, it was unrealistic to expect major impact on Sabah and Sarawak, with the government expected to take more than five years to bed in.

“East Kalimantan may be close to Sabah, but it is much nearer to West and North Sulawesi separated only by Makassar Strait and Celebes sea. The spillover of growth and development will be felt in Sulawesi rather than here,” said Alin.

Data from 2018 data shows that Indonesia was Sarawak’s second highest export destination among Asean countries with RM1.5 billion total export but trade is usually with Java and other parts of the republic but not with Kalimantan.

In Sabah, Indonesia is the fifth highest export destination consisting of RM1.54 billion but again, not much into Kalimantan.

“So Sarawak’s geographical proximity to West Kalimantan did not translate into higher intra trade between both areas. If distance is important then Brunei should be Sarawak’s number one export destination and import source,” he said, explaining that intra trade between the two countries is unlikely to increase significantly despite the move.

“It is expected that Sabah economy is not going to benefit in any significant way,” said Alin.

Opportunities for the future?

However, Brahmana, a senior lecturer in Unimas’s economics and business faculty, estimated that although there will be no big impact on Malaysia’s economy, Sarawak and Sabah may stand to benefit from the move, if they can solve connectivity woes and attract business and tourism markets.

“There are only two flights to Sarawak from Pontianak, West Kalimantan. No flights from other parts of Kalimantan. No connection to Sabah. Coupled with no highways, this explains why there is no significant trade between this region,” he said.

However, Brahmana said if the connectivity is solved, there were several sectors Sabah and Sarawak could stand to benefit from — clean energy supply, niche tourism, and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), if they can penetrate the market.

“Sarawak can take advantage of Kalimantan’s heightened demand for energy, in particular clean energy to replace fossil fuels, which the region is known for.

“Jokowi plans to shift the fossil fuel energy to clean energy like Sarawak has in Bakun. So, there is an opportunity for Malaysia, especially Sarawak, to introduce the hydro energy. Instead of pushing and trolling with fossil fuel, Malaysia can offer clean energy,” he said.

In terms of tourism, Brahmana said that trends may shift from Peninsula Malaysia to Sabah and Sarawak.

According to him, there are 3.2 million Indonesia tourists coming to Malaysia, and around 17 per cent of those are going to Sarawak — many for medical tourism. Only around four per cent are going to Sabah, likely because Indonesians can find the same eco attractions in Sabah in their own country.

“With people from Jakarta moving to Kalimantan, the proportion of Indonesians going to Sarawak, Sabah may increase,” he said, explaining that because they are from the same market, it is not an increase in Malaysia’s GDP, but for the two states.

A new niche market that East Malaysia can capitalise on is medical tourism, as most cities in Indonesia, including its big cities, lack medical infrastructure. But this also depends on connectivity.

“People from Jakarta and Surabaya are going to Penang and Malacca. From West Kalimantan, patients seek medical treatment in Kuala Lumpur and Kuching. From other parts of Kalimantan, including East Kalimantan, people usually fly to Kuala Lumpur and Malacca.

“So those who relocate to East Kalimantan may consider getting their medical treatments in Malaysia as it is still cheaper to travel to KL or Kuching rather than Jakarta or Surabaya,” he said.

In terms of modernity and popular culture, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu are ahead of other cities in Borneo, so regional tourism may increase if better connectivity can be established.

“There are no international or popular brands in Pontianak (West Kalimantan) so officers who are transferred to Pontianak may go to Kuching or those in Balikpapan-Samarinda (East Kalimantan) will go to Kuala Lumpur or Jakarta, just for the sake H&M or Uniqlo or Zara or Mango or even McDonald’s.

“It is similar in Balikpapan-Samarinda so if Sarawak or Sabah can provide the shopping destination for those officers, it may have some impact for Sarawak and Sabah’s tourism,” said Brahmana.

He suggested attractions like shopping complexes, theme parks — judging by the trend of Indonesians visiting the European-styled Santorini park in Thailand — as potential destinations which will be attractive to Indonesians.

“Another niche market for tourism is golf courses and spas. I’ve met many top officers like the directors and consulate generals and they complain that there are no good golf courses in Kalimantan and very few in Sarawak so they travel to Selangor or Johor for it,” he said.

Other issues

Meanwhile, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia geostrategist Azmi Hassan said that environmental issues will be the key factor for Jakarta’s move, with Western media playing up the destruction of wildlife habitats.

“With negative news of palm oil plantations situated in Borneo I forsee environmental factor will add new constraints to the capital move,” he said, adding that it was difficult for both Malaysia and Indonesia to convince the public of their conservation efforts with the current narrative on palm oil plantations.

“Malaysia should support the Jakarta move and work together at the earliest possible time to promote Borneo environmental protection. Lesson learned when we react too late on palm oil biased propaganda,” he said.

Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia (Isis Malaysia) analyst Muhammad Sinatra said that one good thing that can be expected is better security that can impede cross border crime.

“Indonesia’s capital relocation would shift the gravity of security framework, away from Jakarta and surrounding areas to Kalimantan. This means there will be an increased presence of police and military forces in and near the new capital,” said Sinatra, whos is in the organisation’s foreign policy and security studies programme.

“The increased security in Kalimantan could impede the movement of transnational crime activities between Sabah, Sarawak and Kalimantan, such as transfer of drugs,” he said.

Any illegal immigration pattern along the Borneo-Kalimantan border is also expected to see a downward trend as the military and police increase their presence in Kalimantan; as there will be pressure to resolve outstanding border issues.

Renewables

Renewable energy plan under review as share of clean sources declines

1 September 2019

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Philippines

RENEWABLE energy’s dwindling share in the country’s mix of power sources has prompted the government to review its program that was meant to help ensure energy security and improve access to clean energy, an official said.

Mylene C. Capongcol, director of the Department of Energy’s (DoE) Renewable Energy Management Bureau (REMB), said the National Renewable Energy Program (NREP), drafted in 2011, is up for review.

“(NREP) covers the planning horizon of 2011-2030. The target is to triple the capacity by 2030. At the time it was issued, 5,000 megawatts (MW) ang ating existing RE (renewable energy) capacity. The target is by end of 2030, dapat nasa (it must reach) 15,000 MW,” she told reporters.

However, she said that based on the DoE’s assessment, only around 7,000 MW had been added from 2011 to 2017.

“Malayo pa ang hahabulin (Catching up will take time),” she added.

Separately, the National Renewable Energy Board (NREB), a panel composed of members from the public and private sector, is looking at a longer time-frame for the new program.

“We’re targeting updated program by October,” Monalisa C. Dimalanta, chairman of the NREB board, told reporters.

She said what the board is doing is to re-evaluate the program to determine why the country failed to meet the target, and what additional work needs to be done.

“For the new NREP, we’re looking at the timeframe 2020-2040,” she said.

She said the program had been easy to implement for some technologies like solar energy, which requires a short gestation period before operation. She said solar projects have exceeded the installation target by more than three times.

“But for some technologies like geothermal, which is what we want to push further because we are rich in geothermal, there’s a long gestation period. We need to account for that gestation period as well,” she said.

Ms. Dimalanta said NREB was working closely with geothermal energy companies to understand the reason behind the slow uptake that led to the Philippines being overtaken by Indonesia as the world’s largest producer of the resource.

“That’s quite a bit disheartening, but that’s also challenging. It gives us the challenge on how we can go back to harnessing geothermal,” she said.

“Key challenge is really the exploration phase, the pre-development phase. It requires significant investment during [pre-development] period when you’re just drilling and looking for the resource, and you’re not earning anything,” she added.

Ms. Dimalanta has ruled out a feed-in tariff scheme that guarantees a fixed rate for RE output that is subsidized by consumers. The program has been previously offered for solar, wind, biomass, run-of-river projects.

She also noted that the share of renewables to the country’s energy capacity mix had dwindled.

“In the supply mix, [the target is] more than 30%, now [it’s] 23% as of last year,” she said. “Instead of increasing the share of RE in the supply mix, we’re reducing.”

She said the decrease can be explained by a bigger rise in energy capacity using non-RE technologies.

“The pie got bigger with the share of non-RE getting bigger. For RE, the increase was not proportional,” she said. — Victor V. Saulon

Energy Cooperation

AMEM a chance to promote multilateral energy trading

31 August 2019

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ASEAN

The Energy Ministry is ready to push forward five plans to promote the sector regionally at the 37th Asean Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM), scheduled for Sept 2-6 in Bangkok.

Poonpat Leesombatpiboon, the ministry’s director for international affairs, said the five action plans are expected to be developed at the meeting.

The priority plan is to initiate multilateral electricity trading on a subregional level this year under an Asean power grid including Laos, Myanmar and Malaysia through the power infrastructure of Thailand.

Under this plan, Asean members will enhance their energy security through gas pipeline connectivity and a liquefied natural gas regasification terminal.

The second plan is to enhance the image of coal through promotion of clean coal technologies, led by Indonesia as the largest coal exporter in the region.

The third plan is that Southeast Asia needs to reduce its energy intensity by 20% in 2020 from the 2005 level because the region’s GDP will grow by an average of 4.6% during 2019-40 and power demand is projected to reach 2,212 terawatt-hours by 2040, up from 1,104TWh in 2020.

The fourth plan is to set an increasing target for renewable energy in Southeast Asia, reaching 23% of total capacity in 2025, and improving energy efficiency for home appliances sold in the region.

The fifth plan is to build capabilities in policy, technology and regulatory aspects for nuclear energy in Asean.

Mr Poonpat said the meeting will involve discussions of effective energy management and stability for Southeast Asia via partnerships and innovation to help the economy and people’s standard of living.

Participants include ministers and high-ranking officials from the 10 Asean members and eight partner countries — China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, New Zealand, the US and Russia — as well as six international energy organisations.

In addition, the Asean Energy Business Forum will take place in parallel with the main meeting, featuring an exhibition on energy, technology and innovation by corporate and academic institutions, and a workshop on related topics.

“The ministry has adopted a main theme of renewable energy innovation for the forum, including hosting the Asean Energy Awards,” Mr Poonpat said. “The ministry will facilitate negotiations between energy ministers and senior officials from Asean members and partner countries to help reach a consensus.”

Energy Efficiency

‘Govt must include energy efficiency in power mix’

31 August 2019

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Philippines

AN energy group is calling on the government to include energy efficiency as one of the resources in charting the country’s energy mix. In a panel discussion during this week’s 2019 Philippine Infrastructure Conference, the Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance proposed that governments, be it here or overseas, “should slowly move toward incorporating energy efficiency as a mainstreamed resource in planning its energy mix.” Its president, Alexander Ablaza, said “our economy needs to mobilize $243 billion in energy efficiency capital to harvest 45,900 megawatts from the demand-side of the Philippine energy market in the next 21 years,”

Others

Singapore aims to cut daily waste sent to landfill by 30% by 2030 to extend Semakau’s lifespan [TODAY Online]

31 August 2019

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Singapore

With the Semakau Landfill set to run out of space by 2035, the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) has set a new waste reduction target to extend its lifespan.

The Zero Waste Masterplan launched on Friday (Aug 30) aims to reduce the waste sent to the landfill each day by 30 per cent by 2030.

It also outlines plans to achieve a 70 per cent overall recycling rate by 2030.

The masterplan maps out Singapore’s key strategies to build a sustainable, resource-efficient and climate-resilient nation.

This includes adopting a circular economy approach to waste and resource management practices, and shifting towards more sustainable production and consumption. A circular economy is one which maximises the value of resources by keeping them in use for as long as possible.

Here is a look at some of the steps laid out in the masterplan:

EXTENDING SEMAKAU’S LIFESPAN

The amount of waste disposed in Singapore has increased seven-fold in the last 40 years, MEWR said.

According to the masterplan, at current waste disposal rates, Singapore would need to build a new incineration plant every seven to 10 years. By 2035, the ash generated from incineration may have nowhere to go as Singapore’s only landfill, Semakau Landfill, is projected to run out of space by then.

To reach the target of reducing the waste sent to the landfill each day by 30 per cent by 2030, it would mean having to cut down from 0.36kg per capita in 2018 to 0.25kg per capita in 2030.

Today, each person disposes of 800g of waste per day, the masterplan notes. To achieve this waste-to-landfill reduction target of 30 per cent, each person needs to reduce the total amount of waste they dispose of per day to 640g by 2030.

This adds up to a reduction of about 30 bananas or 15 glass bottles per month.

IMPROVING RECYCLING RATES

MEWR unveiled a new design for the blue recycling bins that are located in housing estates, as part of its plan to achieve a 70 per cent overall recycling rate by 2030.

Since 2012, 60 per cent of waste is recycled in Singapore. However, this is in large part due to the high recycling rates for non-domestic waste, such as that produced on construction sites. The masterplan reported that close to all of the waste produced during construction and development is recycled.

Meanwhile, last year only 22 per cent of Singapore’s domestic waste — waste from households and small businesses — was recycled.

The new recycling labels will convey more explicitly what can and cannot be placed in the bins. For example, the labels will make clear that paper, metal, plastic and glass products are permitted, while styrofoam, food-stained items and bulky items are not.

Banners stating “No Food. No Liquids.” will also be placed in prominent positions to remind the public to keep the bins free from food and liquid waste.

Currently, about 40 per cent of what is thrown into the blue recycling bins is contaminated. This includes items that cannot be recycled — such as toys, clothes and shoes — and contaminated recyclables like plastic containers that still contain remnants of food or liquid.

The labels will be progressively rolled out and all blue bins are expected to have them by the middle of next year.

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MEWR also announced that all recycling trucks in Singapore will be refreshed with a new and identical design. The trucks, which have been painted blue since August, will help the public to readily identify and differentiate them from the waste collection vehicles.

To accompany this, MEWR and the National Environment Agency (NEA) will also focus on improving the public’s knowledge on how to recycle properly. In 2019, they launched the #RecycleRight campaign as part of efforts to push Singapore towards a zero-waste future.

Meanwhile, NEA is exploring a plan to establish local e-waste recycling facilities for large household appliances, household batteries and lamps.

BETTER MANAGEMENT OF WASTE

Ultimately, achieving the waste reduction target will require the successful implementation of the various measures outlined in the masterplan, MEWR said, including those to better manage food waste, electronic waste and packaging waste, including plastics.

These waste streams will be regulated under the Resource Sustainability Bill, which will be debated in Parliament next week.

If passed, the new laws will set the following targets:

Mandatory packaging reporting by 2020

Extended producer responsibility for electronic waste by 2021

Mandatory food waste segregation treatment by 2024

Extended producer responsibility for packaging, including plastics, before 2025

Details of these measures were announced earlier by Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources Amy Khor in March.

Here is a summary of the key initiatives under the proposed laws:

Food waste

From 2024, sizeable food-waste generators — including large hotels and malls, as well as industrial developments housing food manufacturers, caterers and food-storage warehouses — will have to segregate such waste for treatment on or off site.

The Government is also working with large public-sector buildings that generate considerable amounts of food waste to take the lead in segregating the waste from 2021.

From 2021, developers of new premises that are expected to be large food-waste generators will also have to set aside space for food-waste treatment systems and treat such waste on site from 2024.

Electronic waste

From 2021, producers of electronic waste will have to be responsible for the end-of-life treatment of their products. This means that they will have to collect and ensure that the products are recycled by licensed companies.

Producers of consumer electronic products — such as laptops, mobile phones and household appliances — have to join a Producer Responsibility Scheme (PRS).

Under the scheme, the operator of the PRS, appointed by the NEA, will have to develop and implement a collection and recycling system for consumer electronic waste.

This includes scheduling collection drives, providing e-waste bins, transporting the e-waste to licensed recyclers, and reporting the tonnage of e-waste collected and recycled to the NEA.

Large retailers with sales areas of over 300sqm for such consumer equipment will have to set up in-store e-waste collection points for information and communications technology equipment, lamps and batteries. They also have to ensure licensed e-waste recyclers or collectors treat the e-waste properly.

As for commercial and industrial electrical and electronic equipment, such as data servers and solar panels, producers will have to take back equipment that have reached the end of their lifespans for free, at their clients’ request.

Packaging waste

Producers of packaging and packaged products, such as supermarkets, brand owners, manufacturers and importers, will have to collect data and report to the NEA from 2021 on the types and amount of packaging they introduce to the market.

They will also have to set out and report their plans to reduce the amount of packaging which will end up as waste.

For a start, the rule will apply only to firms with an annual turnover exceeding S$10 million.

They will have to register with the NEA when the framework is rolled out in 2020 and submit their first reports from 2021.

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

The ministry has ramped up investments in research and development to tackle the mounting problems of climate change and mounting waste.

Since 2017, S$45 million has been invested in the Closing the Waste Loop initiative. To date, this programme has funded eight projects worth almost S$20 million.

Among these projects are initiatives to help recycle packaging waste — specifically plastic-embedded multilayer films, such as those used to carry potato chips — and research into converting debris and waste from the Semakau Landfill into useful materials.

An additional S$25 million has gone into the Waste-to-Energy programme, which aims to build Singapore’s capabilities in energy and value recovery from waste. The programme was launched in 2014.

Eco Friendly Vehicle

EGAT launches No.5 power-saving labelled electric motorcycles

30 August 2019

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Thailand

BANGKOK (NNT) – To promote energy saving and encourage people to use electric motorcycles, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has launched the No.5 power-saving electric motorcycle. EGAT aims to encourage people to use 21,000 No.5 power-saving labelled electric motorcycles per year.

Energy Minister Sonthirat Sonthijirawong presided over the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the No.5 power-saving labelled electric motorcycle project, between the EGAT and partner agencies in the energy advisor project to raise the standard of electric vehicles to a high level of efficiency.

EGAT has recently launched No.5 power-saving electric motorcycles and attached a No.5 power-saving label to them. EGAT aims to encourage people to use the No.5 power-saving electric motorcycles to achieve cost savings of 183 million baht per year. EGAT will be attaching a No.5 power-saving label to electric motorcycles from September.

Plaques of honor were presented to agencies that are participating in the energy advisor project which has operated since 2018 to allow electricity users nationwide to use electricity efficiently through various measures, as well as support the goal of reducing overall energy use. In the future, the EGAT aims to reduce electricity consumption according to the 20-year energy conservation plan by 30 percent by 2036. Electricity consumption has already decreased by eight percent.

Renewables

CEIA encourages government to accelerate clean energy campaign

30 August 2019

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Indonesia

Companies are aiming to transform themselves into renewable energy users as part of their clean energy goals and in support of Indonesia’s target of having an environmentally friendly energy mix by 2025.

“Transitioning to clean energy is part of our responsibility to the customers,” Anya Sapphira, regional sustainability manager of H&M Production Office, said.

The Sweden-based apparel company is one of 14 companies partnering with the Clean Energy Investment Accelerator (CEIA) in Indonesia, which is jointly led by the World Resource Institute (WRI), Allotrope Partners and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Also operating in Colombia, Mexico, the Philippines, and Vietnam, the CEIA was launched to accelerate clean power usage in the commercial and industrial sectors and support member companies in meeting their clean energy and climate commitments.

“Big companies like Unilever and P&G have already pledged their commitment to renewable energy. One is seeking to meet their target next year; another is looking ahead for 2030. The corporate demand for renewable energy is real, and it presents economically viable investment opportunities,” Gina Lisdiani, representative of Allotrope Partners for CEIA Indonesia, said.

“The demand from companies is huge and this should be seen by the government as a big economic opportunity.”

Indonesia set a target to increase the use of clean energy from its current level of 12 percent to 23 percent of energy use by 2025, but progress toward this goal has been slow.

Countries around the globe are committed to shifting to renewables. However, the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy in emerging countries like Indonesia involves a range of barriers that must be overcome. CEIA Indonesia aims to bring more companies into the partnership to help speed up progress toward clean energy goals and communicate key challenges to the government, and solutions to addressing these challenges.

CEIA Indonesia has demonstrated the demand for renewable energy in the market and is raising awareness of this growing movement with government and utility partners.

Clean energy vision: WRI Indonesia climate and energy manager Almo Pradana (right) makes a presentation about the World Resources Institute (WRI). (Courtesy of WRI Indonesia/.)

“We collectively engage the government to accelerate its commitment to clean energy. Conveying input from the private sector and insights from global best practices can help the government’s policy to become conducive [to supporting clean energy],” Almo Pradana, representative of WRI Indonesia for CEIA Indonesia, said.

The companies that are currently partnered with the CEIA already need more than 3 million megawatt-hour (MWh) of clean energy each year to satisfy their demands.

The CEIA will work with the government to reduce barriers to renewable energy investment and let the committed companies help the government reach its 2025 target.

In Southeast Asia, Indonesia accounts for nearly 40 percent of total energy use among ASEAN members and is set to become the seventh-largest economy in the world by 2030, with energy consumption growing by 80 percent from current levels, according to GlobeAsia.

H&M has set a goal for 100 percent clean energy by 2030. In Indonesia, H&M works with 35 suppliers consisting of 85 production units, only two of which currently use solar power.

Good point: H&M regional sustainability manager Anya Sapphira (right), World Resources Institute (WRI) Indonesia climate and energy manager Almo Pradana (center) and Allotrope Partners country director Gina Lisdiani (left) share views during a recent forum. (Courtesy of WRI Indonesia/.)

“Our vision is to help mitigate climate change. One of the solutions is committing ourselves to using renewable energy,” Anya said.

“Indonesia is rich with alternative energy sources such as solar power and geothermal [energy]. Unfortunately, the government’s current policies are not conducive to widespread and rapid renewable energy deployment in the manufacturing industry.

“The fact that the private sector has a huge demand for renewable energy must be met with supporting infrastructure and policy. Renewable energy indeed carries huge potential for investment in Indonesia.”

Electricity/Power Grid

PTT wins deal to develop electricity supply for New Yangon City

30 August 2019

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Myanmar

PTT Group announced today that it has won a deal for the development of an electricity production system for New Yangon City in Myanmar.

Chawalit Tippawanich, president and CEO of Global Power Synergy Co Ltd (GPSC), said that the New Yangon Development Co Ltd (NYDC) of Myanmar has chosen PTT Group, comprising PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) and GPSC, to develop the electricity production system in New Yangon City, which borders Yangon.

“For the later steps, the PTT Group will further discuss the details and talk with GAIL (India), which won the contract for sourcing natural gas for the development of the New Yangon project. PTT will require the natural gas supplied by GAIL for the development of the project,” said Chawalit.

“It is too early to disclose details of the project as discussions between all parties are pending. The production of electricity must take into account the demand for electricity in the area, both in household and industrial sectors,” he added.

NYDC announced the development of New Yangon City project last year. The new area will be built on 20,000 acres of agricultural land on the opposite bank of the river from Yangon. It is expected that the New Yangon City project will create two million new jobs. The project is waiting for approval from the central government.

Chawalit said that in terms of investment in Myanmar, PTT Group is also following the progression of two possible projects. The first is the Gas to Power project with a capacity of 600 megawatts on which GPSC and PTTEP will collaborate to cater to the demand for electricity in Myanmar by using natural gas as its fuel. The supplied gas will come from Zawitka and M3 fields in Myanmar. A second project is currently under wraps.

“For GPSC’s total business plan in the next five years, we aim at having 5,500 megawatts in overall power production capacity, of which one-third will from conventional fuels, such as oil, gas, and coal. Another third will from alternative energy and one-third from the operational growth driven by parent company PTT, which will focus on expansion both domestically and within the Asean Economic Community,” he said.

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