Nuclear energy is the answer, says TNB chief
Published: Jan 15, 2011 2:54 PM | Updated: Jan 15, 2011 4:04 PM
The recent flooding catastrophe in Australia that pushed up the coal price, further justifies the need for Malaysia to seriously consider nuclear power to generate electricity, Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) president and chief executive officer, Che Khalib Mohamad Noh said.
He says the recent flood catastrophe in Australia further justifies the need for M'sia to strongly consider nuclear power.
The recent flooding catastrophe in Australia that pushed up the coal price, further justifies the need for Malaysia to seriously consider nuclear power to generate electricity, Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB)president and chief executive officer, Che Khalib Mohamad Noh said.
"Due to the shortage of gas in the country, we have diversified our electricty generation to include coal.
"Now that there is bad weather in Australia and Kalimantan, as well as severe cold in the Northern hemisphere, the demand for coal, has suddenly shot up but supply is limited.
"There is also a lot of expansion of coal plants elsewhere and all this has combined to spike the coal price by more than 50 per cent over the last six months," he added, when met at a sports carnival for kids organised by TNB in Kuala Lumpur today.
Coal accounts for 40 per cent of Tenaga's power generation source.
AmResearch in its recent report said, based on the current price that is hovering above US$100 per tonne and the US/RM exchange rate, Tenaga's net profit for financial years 2011 to 2013, could drop by between 28-29 per cent.
Tenaga purchased 17 percent of its annual coal requirement of 18 million tonnes in financial year 2010 from Australia, 71 per cent from Indonesia and 11 percent from South Africa, said the research house.
Coal accounted for 48 per cent of Tenaga's 2010 financial year fuel cost.
"We estimate that a US$10 increase per tonne in coal costs above our average coal cost projection, could shave Tenaga's 2011 financial net profit by 18 percent," it explained.
Hence, Che Khalib said, it is timely for the government to seriously look into generating electricty from nuclear power.
"The safety measures, record and technology for nuclear power plants today is far better than that 30 years ago," he added.
He also said that, as the country’s largest power producer, TNB supports the government’s initiative to establish the Nuclear Power Corporation, as the country can now seriously look into an alternative avenue.
"It is not that we are forcing the country to accept the alternative but we seriously need to look at it and if suitable, be implemented as soon as possible," said Che Khalib.
He also said TNB as an utility company has an interest in supporting the government as the plan is to have the first nuclear plant by year 2021.
"TNB wants secure power generation within the next 10 years and it has to have nuclear power as part of the mix," he added.
Tenaga’s share price inched up one sen to close at RM6.55 yesterday.
- Bernama
"Due to the shortage of gas in the country, we have diversified our electricty generation to include coal."Now that there is bad weather in Australia and Kalimantan, as well as severe cold in the Northern hemisphere, the demand for coal, has suddenly shot up but supply is limited.
"There is also a lot of expansion of coal plants elsewhere and all this has combined to spike the coal price by more than 50 per cent over the last six months," he added, when met at a sports carnival for kids organised by TNB in Kuala Lumpur today.
Coal accounts for 40 per cent of Tenaga's power generation source.
AmResearch in its recent report said, based on the current price that is hovering above US$100 per tonne and the US/RM exchange rate, Tenaga's net profit for financial years 2011 to 2013, could drop by between 28-29 per cent.
Tenaga purchased 17 percent of its annual coal requirement of 18 million tonnes in financial year 2010 from Australia, 71 per cent from Indonesia and 11 percent from South Africa, said the research house.
Coal accounted for 48 per cent of Tenaga's 2010 financial year fuel cost.
"We estimate that a US$10 increase per tonne in coal costs above our average coal cost projection, could shave Tenaga's 2011 financial net profit by 18 percent," it explained.Hence, Che Khalib said, it is timely for the government to seriously look into generating electricty from nuclear power.
"The safety measures, record and technology for nuclear power plants today is far better than that 30 years ago," he added.
He also said that, as the country’s largest power producer, TNB supports the government’s initiative to establish the Nuclear Power Corporation, as the country can now seriously look into an alternative avenue.
"It is not that we are forcing the country to accept the alternative but we seriously need to look at it and if suitable, be implemented as soon as possible," said Che Khalib.
He also said TNB as an utility company has an interest in supporting the government as the plan is to have the first nuclear plant by year 2021.
"TNB wants secure power generation within the next 10 years and it has to have nuclear power as part of the mix," he added.
Tenaga’s share price inched up one sen to close at RM6.55 yesterday.
- Bernama
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