ID :
83884
Fri, 10/09/2009 - 17:03
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/83884
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PM: MSIAN GOVT TO BE CAUTIOUS IN INTRODUCING SUBSIDY FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY
From Leslean Arshad
PARIS, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian government will adopt a "careful"
approach in implementing subsidy mechanism for the renewable energy industry but
may offer the necessary incentives to keep energy rates competitive to the
consumer, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said.
"Well, we might have to provide some incentives. We are very careful with
the word subsidy because subsidy, once you introduce, you can't take it away.
It's very difficult to take away," Najib told La Tribune, a French business
daily, recently.
Najib was interviewed by the daily's Asia Desk editor Laurent Chemineau
during
his four-day official visit to France which ended on Wednesday.
He said that the key in the renewable energy sector was the price and that
the
consumer expected it to be low.
The government might have to provide some form of incentives because the
renewable energy players might not be able to get return on investment if the
price was too low, he said.
Najib said the government planned to have "a better fuel mix" for the
country
as currently, it depended highly on coal, which is a highly polluting energy
source, and gas, a depleting resource.
The government would increase the percentage of hydro power production and
look
at other renewable energy sources like solar, although the cost was quite high,
he said.
On Malaysia's nuclear technology sector, Najib said the country only had a
"very basic work" and far from having the capability to have nuclear reactors.
He said Malaysia's nuclear energy development was purely for peaceful
purposes
so that the country could have a better fuel mix.
Najib also said that Malaysia was exploring the possibility of using
Marseille
as a strategic gateway for the introduction of palm oil into Europe.
The proposal included setting up a palm oil refinery plant in Marseille, he
said. "We are exploring that now."
Marseille, located on the southeast of France on the Mediterranean Sea, is
France's largest commercial port.
Malaysia is in initial talks with Port of Marseille, he said.
Malaysia, one of the world's biggest palm oil producers and exporters,
produced 17.7 million tonnes of palm oil last year.
Of this, 15 million tonnes were exported to more than 150 countries.
-- BERNAMA
PARIS, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian government will adopt a "careful"
approach in implementing subsidy mechanism for the renewable energy industry but
may offer the necessary incentives to keep energy rates competitive to the
consumer, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said.
"Well, we might have to provide some incentives. We are very careful with
the word subsidy because subsidy, once you introduce, you can't take it away.
It's very difficult to take away," Najib told La Tribune, a French business
daily, recently.
Najib was interviewed by the daily's Asia Desk editor Laurent Chemineau
during
his four-day official visit to France which ended on Wednesday.
He said that the key in the renewable energy sector was the price and that
the
consumer expected it to be low.
The government might have to provide some form of incentives because the
renewable energy players might not be able to get return on investment if the
price was too low, he said.
Najib said the government planned to have "a better fuel mix" for the
country
as currently, it depended highly on coal, which is a highly polluting energy
source, and gas, a depleting resource.
The government would increase the percentage of hydro power production and
look
at other renewable energy sources like solar, although the cost was quite high,
he said.
On Malaysia's nuclear technology sector, Najib said the country only had a
"very basic work" and far from having the capability to have nuclear reactors.
He said Malaysia's nuclear energy development was purely for peaceful
purposes
so that the country could have a better fuel mix.
Najib also said that Malaysia was exploring the possibility of using
Marseille
as a strategic gateway for the introduction of palm oil into Europe.
The proposal included setting up a palm oil refinery plant in Marseille, he
said. "We are exploring that now."
Marseille, located on the southeast of France on the Mediterranean Sea, is
France's largest commercial port.
Malaysia is in initial talks with Port of Marseille, he said.
Malaysia, one of the world's biggest palm oil producers and exporters,
produced 17.7 million tonnes of palm oil last year.
Of this, 15 million tonnes were exported to more than 150 countries.
-- BERNAMA
