KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 — There will be a six-month delay in rolling out the Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore Power Integration Project (LTMS-PIP) as Singapore needs to stabilise its power grid first, Malaysia’s energy, green technology and water minister said today.
In his speech, Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said that Singapore is not ready to export its energy generated, and as such they will not sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the undertaking.
“Unfortunately, I have been made to understand that due to certain reservations, this MoU will not be signed during this 33rd AMEM,” he said in his speech, referring to the 33rd Asean Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM).
“Singapore is not ready yet to supply the energy and they cannot just impose and load 100 megawatt. They need some time,” he explained to reporters later.
When asked when would all countries involved in the project agree to sign the MoU, Ongkili briefly said, “Within six months”.
According to Bernama on May, the minister said that the participating countries of the pilot project on cross border power trade need to stabilise their existing power grid before exporting energy to other countries in need.
“We need to have proper grid within our countries first before we can export to each other within the Asean belt.
“Malaysia is monitoring the Asean Power Grid closely as we are in the centre of the Asean belt,” he was quoted as saying.
Ongkili also called on participating countries of the LTMS-PIP to follow-up to ensure the project was a success.
He said the successful implementation of the project would enhance economic activities in the countries concerned and contribute to greater investment for the entire Asean region.
