FED GOVT TO BUILD TWO COAL-FIRED POWER GENERATION PLANTS IN PENINSULAR

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- The federal government plans to build two
blocks of 1,000 MW coal-fired power generation plants in the Peninsular
following the cancellation of power transmission from the multi-billion ringgit
Bakun Hydroelectric Dam project, said Energy, Green Technology and Water
Minister Peter Chin Fah Kui.

"We have decided that the two plants will be limited to only three
brownfield sites, namely in Manjung (Perak), Jimah (Port Dickson) and Tanjung
Bin (Johor).

"Because of the urgency of the matter, one of the 1,000 MW block is
currently being handled by Tenaga Nasional Bhd in Manjung.

"The other block will see bidding by the existing brownfield site owner," he
told reporters after delivering a keynote address at the National Water and
Utilities Summit here Tuesday.

He added the power supply was urgently needed by 2015 and it was better for
the government to institute the process before it was too late.

Speaking on the government's plan for a nuclear powered generation plant
under the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), he said public consultation
was the most crucial process.

"We must take note that the plans are for 2021, which is a 10 year gap
between the actual implementation where the reactor will be functioning, we are
now in the preparatory stage.

"International treaties need to be signed by Malaysia, proper legislation
needs to be looked into and while doing that we will look into the consultation
process," he said.

Chin added, a timeline from now until 2015 has been set to have a
countrywide consultation and the ministry would institute various mechanisms to
consult the public.

"At the end of the day, if the public does not wish for a nuclear reactor,
we will respect that decision," he said.

-- BERNAMA