ID :
35450
Sat, 12/13/2008 - 13:29
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/35450
The shortlink copeid
JAPAN AND MALAYSIA TO MEET ON NATURAL GAS SUPPLY IN EARLY 2009
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 13 (Bernama) - The Malaysian and Japanese government have
agreed to hold a joint meeting early next year to discuss ways to deal with
the issue of insufficient natural gas supply in the peninsular.
Japan's Ambassador to Malaysia, Masahiko Horie said among the parties that
will participate in the discussion are Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
Gas Malaysia and Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Malaysia's main energy provider.
"In the peninsular itself, I understand about 400 companies are waiting for
additional supply of natural gas," he said in a press conference at his official
residence here, Friday.
Out of these companies waiting, about 50 to 60 companies are Japanese
companies, he said.
Last week, Japan's economic team came and discussed the issue with
the Ministry of International Trade and Industry and Malaysian Industrial
Development Authority (MIDA) among other agencies.
Among the proposals that the Malaysian government is mulling over to meet
the situation is energy allowance for different industrial use, conservation of
energy and better usage.
"Better efficiency may (help to) mitigate this energy pinch," he
said.
Last month, Minister in Prime Minister's Department, Senator Amirsham Abdul
Aziz, said that there was no more new extra supply of natural gas available at
all the local fields in Malaysia.
Amirsham said domestic consumers and industries were using the natural gas
produced in West Malaysia.
He said Malaysia was also importing natural gas from West Natuna,
Indonesia.
"We are always trying to negotiate with our neighbour but I am not quite
sure we will be able to get a new source by 2010 or 2012," Amirsham said, adding
that Malaysia will probably bring in a new natural gas source in 2014.
Despite some issues such as insufficient supply of natural gas, Horie said
Malaysia remained an attractive investment destination for Japanese
investors.
There are 1,400 Japanese companies in Malaysia, out of which 53 percent are
in the manufacturing sector with almost half of them in the electronic and
electrical sector.
He also said Japanese companies in Malaysia such as Panasonic, Toyota and
Sony had no plans to downsize labour so far, although Toyota Thailand has made
the move to temporarily cut 1,500 jobs.
In fact, Fuji Electric might bring some of their production to Kulim, Kedah
from Japan, he added.
Horie said while Malaysia-Japan bilateral trade has been on the positive
trend, the electronic and electrical export to Japan may be impacted due to the
current economic scenario.
-- BERNAMA
agreed to hold a joint meeting early next year to discuss ways to deal with
the issue of insufficient natural gas supply in the peninsular.
Japan's Ambassador to Malaysia, Masahiko Horie said among the parties that
will participate in the discussion are Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
Gas Malaysia and Tenaga Nasional Bhd, Malaysia's main energy provider.
"In the peninsular itself, I understand about 400 companies are waiting for
additional supply of natural gas," he said in a press conference at his official
residence here, Friday.
Out of these companies waiting, about 50 to 60 companies are Japanese
companies, he said.
Last week, Japan's economic team came and discussed the issue with
the Ministry of International Trade and Industry and Malaysian Industrial
Development Authority (MIDA) among other agencies.
Among the proposals that the Malaysian government is mulling over to meet
the situation is energy allowance for different industrial use, conservation of
energy and better usage.
"Better efficiency may (help to) mitigate this energy pinch," he
said.
Last month, Minister in Prime Minister's Department, Senator Amirsham Abdul
Aziz, said that there was no more new extra supply of natural gas available at
all the local fields in Malaysia.
Amirsham said domestic consumers and industries were using the natural gas
produced in West Malaysia.
He said Malaysia was also importing natural gas from West Natuna,
Indonesia.
"We are always trying to negotiate with our neighbour but I am not quite
sure we will be able to get a new source by 2010 or 2012," Amirsham said, adding
that Malaysia will probably bring in a new natural gas source in 2014.
Despite some issues such as insufficient supply of natural gas, Horie said
Malaysia remained an attractive investment destination for Japanese
investors.
There are 1,400 Japanese companies in Malaysia, out of which 53 percent are
in the manufacturing sector with almost half of them in the electronic and
electrical sector.
He also said Japanese companies in Malaysia such as Panasonic, Toyota and
Sony had no plans to downsize labour so far, although Toyota Thailand has made
the move to temporarily cut 1,500 jobs.
In fact, Fuji Electric might bring some of their production to Kulim, Kedah
from Japan, he added.
Horie said while Malaysia-Japan bilateral trade has been on the positive
trend, the electronic and electrical export to Japan may be impacted due to the
current economic scenario.
-- BERNAMA
