RENEWABLE ENERGY POLICY AND ACTION PLAN BEING FINALISED

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 12 (Bernama) -- The Energy, Water and Communications
Ministry is finalising the Renewable Energy Policy and Action Plan to enable
renewable energy to form a bigger part of the country's fuel mix.

Its minister Shaziman Abu Mansor said a major impediment towards the
greater utilisation of renewable energy was the high cost of technology
development.

"The government is now actively promoting the use of renewable energy
sources to generate electricity under the Small Renewable Energy Power
Programme, introduced under the five-fuel policy in 2001," he said in a luncheon
address at the International Energy Security Forum here Wednesday.

Biomass, biogas, mini hydro, solar and municipal wastes are potential
sources of renewable energy that have been identified for power generation,
Shaziman said.

He said with the ever-increasing demand for electricity, there was a need
to find ways to secure the right fuel mix to ensure security of supply in the
long run.

In this regard, nuclear energy will be an attractive option to consider, he
added.

Shaziman said the Energy, Water and Communications Ministry together with
the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry were studying the nuclear option
to ensure adequate, reliable and cost-effective supply beyond 2020.

"With Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam declaring their intention to go
nuclear between the year 2016 and 2020, we must seriously consider this option
if we are to remain competitive," he said.

Should the electricity market be liberalised in this region, countries with
nuclear energy generating capacity would have an advantage over their neighbours
because of the relatively cheaper cost of generation, Shaziman said.

"In addition, the past two decades has seen significant improvements made
in nuclear plant reliability, technology and innovation as well as a
progressively improved safety record," he said.
-- BERNAMA