The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) has teamed up with partners in China to launch a groundbreaking initiative aimed at fostering the growth of electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage technologies across Africa. This initiative, announced in collaboration with the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization (GEIDCO) and the Association of Power Utilities of Africa (APUA), aims to provide comprehensive training on EVs and energy storage technologies to facilitate sustainable development in Africa. The training program, which began on June 4th and runs until June 14th, is being conducted virtually and has attracted over 140 participants from…
Author: Lakshita Kapoor
Germany aims to strengthen its longstanding relationship with Laos, focusing on enhancing trade and investment opportunities between the two nations. This commitment was emphasized by Minister of State at Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, Dr Tobias Lindner, during a talk titled “Germany, Asean and the Indo-Pacific – geopolitical challenges and opportunities for cooperation” held in Vientiane on Monday. Dr Lindner highlighted the importance of leveraging bilateral cooperation to foster economic growth and sustainability. He expressed optimism about the potential for expanding trade, particularly in agricultural products and renewable energy, given Laos’ existing initiatives in these areas. However, Dr Lindner noted that…
The Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA) Malaysia is gearing up to host the sixth edition of the International Sustainable Energy Summit (ISES) 2024 on August 20-21 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC). Organized under the theme “Accelerating Energy Transition Through Innovation,” the summit is set to be a pivotal event for sustainable energy dialogue and innovation. With the patronage of the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry (PETRA) and managed by Qube Integrated Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., the summit aims to advance Malaysia’s leadership in the ASEAN region’s sustainable energy transition. Scheduled to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri…
Malaysia’s Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) demonstrated a robust demand trend in its first-quarter results, according to an analysis by Maybank Investment Bank (Maybank IB) Bhd. The utility giant reported a 1.7% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) growth in electricity generation during the first quarter of 2024 (1Q24). Interestingly, there was also a notable shift away from coal generation, with a 3.1% QoQ decline, bringing coal’s proportion down to 52.5% in the same quarter, partially attributed to a 1% QoQ increase in coal prices. Maybank IB observed that TNB’s under-recoveries of electricity generation costs rose to RM2.35 billion from RM2.1 billion in the previous…
Bangkok, Thailand is embarking on a journey to diversify its energy mix by exploring small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) technology. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced the country’s ambitious plans during a speech at an American Chamber of Commerce event in Bangkok on May 31. Thavisin highlighted Thailand’s commitment to a green transition, aiming for 50 percent of its energy production to be renewable by 2040. Alongside initiatives such as green hydrogen and battery storage solutions, the country is turning to SMR power plants to make its manufacturing processes more environmentally friendly. SMRs are advanced nuclear reactors capable of generating around…
Sarawak, Malaysia is gearing up to become a key player in the green energy sector by forging partnerships with investors from South Korea and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg, the Premier of Sarawak, revealed plans for these collaborations during a recent press conference. According to Abang Johari, a Korean company has proposed the development of an energy hub in Bintulu, Sarawak. This hub aims to produce green methanol, green ammonia, sustainable aviation fuel, and hydrogen. The ambitious project is estimated to require a whopping USD 460 billion (RM 2,162 billion) in investment and is slated…
South-East Asian countries are embarking on a massive natural gas expansion initiative, poised to invest a staggering US$220 billion, a report from the Global Energy Monitor (GEM) reveals. This ambitious endeavor could potentially impede the region’s transition towards cleaner energy sources. GEM’s research indicates that if all proposed projects materialize, South-East Asia’s gas-fired power capacity could surge by over 100 gigawatts (GW), effectively doubling the current capacity. Additionally, liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports into the region could skyrocket by 80%, according to data unveiled by GEM. Warda Ajaz, overseeing GEM’s Asia Gas Tracker project, cautioned against over-reliance on gas, stating,…
Malaysia’s Kawan Renergy Bhd, a prominent player in the engineering solutions sector, marked a successful debut on the ACE Market with an optimistic outlook for the future. Targeting an impressive RM100 million in revenue for the year, the company’s Managing Director, Lim Thou Lai, emphasized the pivotal role of renewable energy (RE) in driving this growth. Lim highlighted the group’s strategic focus on acquiring high-yield job orders, which are expected to significantly boost gross profit margins, driving the company towards achieving its revenue targets. Despite challenges such as the impending fuel subsidy rationalization program, Kawan Renergy remains bullish on the…
In a recent event at the Laos-Australia Renewable Energy Day, stakeholders gathered to explore the promising prospects of renewable energy in Laos. Hosted by the Australian Embassy to Laos and facilitated by EnergyLab, Partnerships for Infrastructure, and AustCham, the event served as a platform to delve into the technological, economic, and societal dimensions of renewable energy transition. Director General Mr Chantho Milattanapheng from the Department of Energy Efficiency and Promotion, Ministry of Energy and Mines, highlighted Laos’ ambitious plans to embrace renewable energy sources such as wind, solar power, pumped hydro energy storage, and green hydrogen. The event featured insights…
Sarawak, Malaysia, is on a mission to boost its power generation capacity to 10 gigawatts (GW) by 2030, driven by the rising demand for clean energy from industries like those emerging in the Sarawak Energy Hub in Bintulu. The state plans to generate this electricity primarily from renewable sources such as hydropower, solar, gas turbines, and biomass energy, according to Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. State-owned Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) has witnessed a significant growth in its energy generation capacity, reaching 5,745 megawatts (MW) in 2023, with a focus on renewable hydropower supplemented by indigenous coal and…