By Sharan Raj
ELECTRICITY production are the biggest carbon emitters due Malaysia huge reliance towards coal. In 2019, Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB)’s greenhouse gas emission intensity was 0.57 kgCO2/kWh.
If you used 400kWh per month last year then, your carbon footprint from electricity was 2.74 tonnes. Hence, Malaysia need phase out coal and diesel power stations by 2023 to decarbonise our power grid.
Coal-gas fuel switching
Peninsula Malaysia has seven coal power stations generating more than 53% peninsula electricity are the biggest national culprit. In 2019, TNB spent RM10 bil to import coal. Thus, Malaysia suffered foreign outflow worth 0.6% of our national GDP.
In East Malaysia, Sabah does not have any coal power stations but Sarawak has a combination of old and new coal power stations. The older coal power stations should be decommissioned immediately. It’s unrealistic to prematurely close to new power station.
Therefore, it is best to do fuel switching whereby the coal power stations burns fossil-methane (natural gas) instead of dirty coal. Peninsula and Sarawak has reserve margin (stand-by) at around 30%. Hence, Malaysia could probably conduct minor refurbishments on one to two coal power stations, depending on the schedule.
Phasing out diesel
Diesel and distilled oil produce less than 0.1% of TNB power generation but has a disproportionately larger carbon footprint. TNB could phase out all the diesel and distilled oil power stations immediately. However, East Malaysia would not be as easy due to multiple fragmented power grid.
Certain power grids in East Malaysia runs exclusively on diesel power stations. Currently, the Government is funding and constructing transmission network to unify West Malaysia power grid by September 2022.
Once completed, cheap hydropower from Central Sarawak can reach Northern Sarawak and whole of Sabah.
Subsequently, diesel generators in Sarawak and Sabah could be phased out in 2023. Sabah also has many ageing, inefficient, expensive and unwanted reserve (stand-by) gas power stations which could phased out. – Nov 26, 2020
Sharan Raj is a member of the Central Committee for Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) & State Secretary Parti Sosialis Malaysia Negeri Melaka (PSM Melaka).
