MALAYSIA'S ELECTRICITY TARIFF COMPETITIVE

KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's electricity tariff is
competitive compared to others in the region, said utility company Tenaga
Nasional Bhd (TNB) president/chief executive officer Che Khalib Mohamad Noh
Friday.
"
If you compare our tariff with Singapore or Thailand and even Philippines,
our tariff is still competitive," he told reporters after the launch of a
campaign here Friday.

Che Khalib said this in response to a report saying the country's
electricity tariff was one of the highest in the region.

"Probably you cannot compare with Indonesia because the government
subsidises the electricity," he said.

Asked whether TNB would increase tariff, Che Khalib said it would be
adjusted if the fuel price and other cost went up.

"If the gas price goes up, surely the tariff of electricity must be
revised," he said.

He said over the last few months, coal prices had been going up in tandem
with the oil prices.

He said coal prices, which had declined by US$50 over the last one month,
had increased to US$70.

"So far we have been absorbing this additional cost. We have not passed all
additional costs to consumers," he said.

On the nuclear programme, he said TNB would take another 16 years before
the programme could be realised or "after 2020 not now".

"We will make sure our staff are ready before we implement the programme,"
he said.
-- BERNAMA