MALAYSIA EYES REDUCTION IN ELECTRICITY INTERRUPTION TIME

KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian government expects the
System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) in Peninsular Malaysia to be
around 18 minutes/customer per year by 2020, said Energy, Green Technology and
Water Minister, Peter Chin Fah Kui Monday.

SAIDI gives information about the average time the customers are
interrupted.

"The electricity supply system has improved markedly with the SAIDI
being reduced to about 80 minutes/customer per year in Peninsular Malaysia from
148 minutes in 2005.

"The SAIDI has been reduced by 48 percent from 2005 until 2008," Chin said
in his keynote address at the opening of the 2nd Annual Asian Power Forum 2009
here Monday.

His speech was read by the ministry's Deputy Secretary General, Nor
Azmal Mohd Nazir.

The forum provides a platform to keep abreast of current status, trends and
directions as well as to identify issues and challenges on energy market.

The SAIDI for Sabah for the last four years has declined by eight percent
while Sarawak has managed to reduce it by 12 percent from 2005 until 2008, he
said.

Chin said under the Ninth Malaysia Plan, a total of RM796.1 million
(US$1=RM3.58) has been spent on the electricity supply sector, especially in
transmission, distribution
as well as rural electrification.

"The electricity coverage in Malaysia is expected to increase to 95.5
percent in 2010 from 92.9 percent in 2005 while the rural electrification rate
in Sabah and Sarawak, both East Malaysia states, is expected to increase from
72.2 percent and 80.8 percent (2005) to 82.6 percent and 93.2 percent
respectively by 2010.

"Currently, the share of the independent power producers (IPPs) is 14,077MW,
or 66 percent, of the total installed capacity in Peninsular Malaysia while
Tenaga Nasional Bhd contributes 7,096MW, or 34 percent, of the total installed
capacity," he said.

He said the IPPs had contributed greatly to ensuring supply security in
the electricity sector and as a result, the generation sector's efficiency has
been enhanced due to competition in the sector while the government's
expenditure has been reduced significantly.

Tenaga Nasional Berhad is the largest Electric utility company in Malaysia
and also the largest power company in Southeast Asia.

-- BERNAMA