Meta Data
Draft: 
No
Revision of previous policy?: 
No
Draft Year: 
2001
Effective Start Year: 
2001
Effective End Year: 
2005
Scope: 
National
Document Type: 
Plan/Strategy
Economic Sector: 
Energy, Power, Industry, Transport, Building, Multi-Sector, Other
Energy Types: 
All, Power, Gas, Renewable, Bioenergy, Hydropower, Solar, Other
Issued by: 
Economic Planning Unit
Overall Summary: 
The Eighth Malaysia Plan charts the next steps that Malaysia, as a nation, has to take towards becoming a united and fully developed nation in our own mould by the year 2020. Economic growth and social equity are the constant objectives of the Plan, which addresses also future challenges. The Plan explores: Chapter 1 - Policy Objectives; Chapter 2 - Macroeconomic Performance And Prospects; Chapter 3 - Poverty Eradication And Restructuring Of Society; Chapter 4 - Population, Employment And Human Resource Development; Chapter 5 - Regional Development; Chapter 6 - Public Sector Programme And Its Financing; Chapter 7 - Privatization; Chapter 8 - Agricultural Development; Chapter 9 - Industrial Development; Chapter 10 - Infrastructure And Utilities; Chapter 11 - Energy; Chapter 12 - Science And Technology; Chapter 13 - Information And Communications Technology; Chapter 14 - Finance; Chapter 15 - Tourism; Chapter 16 - Distributive Trade; Chapter 17 - Health; Chapter 18 - Housing And Other Social Services; Chapter 19 - Environment And Sustainable Resource Management; Chapter 20 - Women And Development; Chapter 21 - Youth In Development; Chapter 22 - Development Through International Cooperation; Chapter 23 - Administrative Improvements For Development.
Access
Energy access priorities: 
Efforts will be intensified to ensure adequacy, quality and security of energy supply [...]as well as provide adequate electricity generating capacity.
Energy access action plan: 
Rural electrification programmes, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, will be enhanced during the Plan period. These involve grid extension and the provision of stand-alone system generators comprising solar photovoltaic, mini-hydro and hybrid systems.
Energy access targets: 
A total of RM856.6 million will be allocated by the Federal Government for rural electrification programmes, which are expected to benefit 103,126 rural households.---Electricity coverage for Sabah is expected to increase to 85 per cent, while that of Sarawak will reach 90 per cent by the end of the Plan period [...]. In Peninsular Malaysia where universal coverage has been achieved, improvements will continue to be made to extend the duration of supply in remote areas.
Efficiency
EE priorities: 
[E]ncouraging efficient utilization of energy, particularly in the industrial and commercial sectors.
EE action plans: 
During the Plan period, the implementation of EE programmes will focus on the industrial and commercial sectors being the major consumers of energy. Measures to promote the efficient utilization of energy include the enforcement of the Energy Efficiency Regulation, extension of financial and fiscal incentives and demonstration projects. In this respect, the establishment of new integrated complexes and townships that are managed on an energy-efficient manner will be encouraged. The implementation of demand-side management will be intensified during the Plan period, which includes retrofitting and district cooling programmes, changing the energy usage pattern and appliance labelling.
Renewable Energy
RE priorities: 
Utilization of RE as the fifth fuel will be intensified during the Plan period to supplement the supply from conventional energy sources. RE resources that will be promoted in terms of priority, are biomass, biogas, municipal waste, solar and mini-hydro. Of these, biomass resources, such as oil palm and wood residues as well as rice husks, will be used on a wider basis for the purpose of heat and electricity generation.
RE action plans: 
[E]fforts will be intensified to encourage the utilization of renewable resources for the generation of energy. In this respect, the fuel diversification policy, which comprises oil, gas, hydro and coal, will be extended to include RE as the fifth fuel.---The implementation of the 2,400 MW Bakun Hydroelectric Project will continue during the Plan period.---Rural electrification programmes, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, will be enhanced during the Plan period. These involve grid extension and the provision of stand-alone system generators comprising solar photovoltaic, mini-hydro and hybrid systems.---Biomass-based co-generation system for the production of electricity and usable energy will be encouraged.
RE capital subsidy, grant, or rebate: 
In promoting greater utilization of RE resources, initiatives that will be considered include [...] extension of financial and fiscal incentives for RE-related activities.
RE reductions in taxes: 
Under the Budget 2001, biomass-based generating companies that apply for incentives by 31 December 2002 will be granted exemption of income tax on 70 per cent of the statutory income for five years or a tax allowance of 60 per cent of qualifying capital expenditure incurred within five years. The allowance can be utilized to set off up to 70 per cent of the statutory income. In addition, import duty and sales tax exemption on machinery and equipment that are not produced locally will also be granted.
RE public awareness/promotional programmes: 
Promotional programmes to increase public awareness on the benefits of using NGV will be intensified.---In promoting greater utilization of RE resources, initiatives that will be considered include demonstration projects and commercialization of research findings [...]..
Environment
Energy environmental priorities: 
[T]he focus of the sector will be on ensuring adequate, secure, quality and cost-effective supply of energy, promoting its efficient utilization and minimizing the negative impact on the environment.
Pricing
Renewable energy subsidies: 
In promoting greater utilization of RE resources, initiatives that will be considered include [...] extension of financial and fiscal incentives for RE-related activities.
Energy Supply and Infrastructure
Infrastructure development priorities: 
Utilization of RE as the fifth fuel will be intensified during the Plan period to supplement the supply from conventional energy sources. RE resources that will be promoted in terms of priority, are biomass, biogas, municipal waste, solar and mini-hydro. Of these, biomass resources, such as oil palm and wood residues as well as rice husks, will be used on a wider basis for the purpose of heat and electricity generation.---[A] gradual approach will be adopted in introducing a market mechanism in order to attract investments as well as ensure an adequate and reliable supply of electricity. This will involve the establishment of an appropriate infrastructure and regulatory framework.---RM7.4 billion will be utilized for the Malaysia Liquefied Natural Gas 3 project in Sarawak and the balance of RM700 million for the completion of the 240 kilometres of the PGU Loop 2 pipelines from Segamat to Meru, which is also parallel to a section of the PGU II. PETRONAS will spend another RM2.0 billion to construct support facilities for the efficient operations of the integrated petrochemical complexes, such as centralized tankage facilities, Kuantan-Kerteh railway link, Dungun water supply, Kerteh marine facilities and Kuantan bulk chemical storage and piperack facilities.---To meet the objective of the fuel diversification policy, three coal-fired power plants at Kapar, Manjung and Lukut will be commissioned during the Plan period.---The implementation of the 2,400 MW Bakun Hydroelectric Project will continue during the Plan period.---The transmission systems in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak will be further strengthened.---The distribution network in Peninsular Malaysia will be expanded by almost two-fold to 356,900 cct-km [...].---Sabah’s distribution network will also be upgraded and expanded by an additional 2,789 cct-km.---Natural Gas: efforts will be intensified to develop domestic resources and secure supply from PETRONAS’ foreign ventures.
Regional integration priorities: 
[P]romoting Malaysia as a regional centre for energy-related engineering services.
Trade
Import taxes and fee exemptions: 
Under the Budget 2001[...] import duty and sales tax exemption on machinery and equipment that are not produced locally will also be granted.
Investment
Energy sector investment priorities: 
A total of RM61.5 billion will be invested by the petroleum industry during the Plan period. Of this, RM41.5 billion or 67.5 per cent will be spent for exploration, development and production activities by PETRONAS and its production sharing contractors. Another RM8.1 billion will be expended by PETRONAS to further develop infrastructure and facilities to attract foreign investment in gas-related industries.---[A] gradual approach will be adopted in introducing a market mechanism in order to attract investments [...].
Independent power producers: 
An additional 8,800 MW of generation capacity will be commissioned during the Plan period, most of which will be installed by the IPPs in Peninsular Malaysia [...].
Local content requirement: 
[D]eveloping the energy-related industries and services as well as increasing local content.
Investment climate development: 
[A] gradual approach will be adopted in introducing a market mechanism in order to attract investments as well as ensure an adequate and reliable supply of electricity. This will involve the establishment of an appropriate infrastructure and regulatory framework.
Governance
Energy management principles: 
The energy sector will be further strengthened to support the development of Malaysia into a knowledge based economy, thereby enhancing its resilience and competitiveness.---Co-operation between government agencies and private institutions in the development of RE resources will also be promoted.
National policy structure: 
[A] gradual approach will be adopted in introducing a market mechanism in order to attract investments as well as ensure an adequate and reliable supply of electricity. This will involve the establishment of an appropriate infrastructure and regulatory framework.
Energy institutional structures: 
An independent entity will be incorporated to initially assist the Government in system planning for the industry. In addition, an Energy Commission with the responsibility covering both the technical and economic regulation of the industry will be established to replace the Department of Electricity and Gas Supply.
Technology
Clean energy technology priorities: 
[E]fforts will be intensified to encourage the utilization of renewable resources for the generation of energy. In this respect, the fuel diversification policy, which comprises oil, gas, hydro and coal, will be extended to include RE as the fifth fuel.---[...] RE technologies related to bio-mass, will be further developed as strategic niches.
Gas-to-power technology: 
The efficient utilization of gas will be implemented through centralized utility facilities (CUF) that supply electricity, steam, de-mineralized water, oxygen and nitrogen to the petrochemical plants.
Low-emission and cleaner coal technology: 
[T]hree coal-fired power plants at Kapar, Manjung and Lukut will be commissioned during the Plan period. [...] Cleancoal technology which will include among others, electrostatic precipitators and flue gas de-sulphurization for emission control, will be utilized in these new plants to ensure environmental standards are met.
Advanced fuel extraction technology: 
[E]fforts to sustain oil production will include the acquisition of state-of-the-art technology in exploration and production as well as intensification of research in oil recovery and reduction of cost.
Natural gas transportation technology: 
To facilitate the greater utilization of NGV, an additional 31 NGV outlets will be constructed and 7,500 vehicles converted to run on dual fuels. In addition, vehicles fitted with the NGV system will be manufactured locally by the end of the Plan period. Promotional programmes to increase public awareness on the benefits of using NGV will be intensified.
Industrialization support: 
In addition, the development of industries that produce energy-related products and services will be supported for both the domestic and export markets.