Minister of Energy, Water and Communications Datuk Seri Lim Keng Yaik said the diversification started in 1997 to ensure there would always be adequate supply of power in the country.

“The most important aspect to consider in planning the power supply is security... it is risky to depend on only one source,“ he said in his speech during the launching of the Sultan Azlan Shah Power Station (SJSAS) here today.

Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak opened the station which uses coal and costing RM5.4 million which started operation in 2003.

Lim said gas was the main energy source in 1997 where 77 percent of electricity were produced by this source.

However, the government decided to reduce the dependence on gas and coal was being used as an alternative.

“Due to this policy, the use of coal increased and by 2010 it is expected to reach 36.5 percent.

“Subsequently, the use of gas is expected to drop to 55.9 percent by 2010 compared to 70.2 percent today,“ he said.

He however added that the country could not depend on gas and coal only because these fossils were depleting.

Furthermore, coal has to be imported 100 percent while 19 percent of the gas used has to be imported.

On the pollution caused by the use of coal, Lim said the “flue gas“ especially sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide from SJSAS were being controlled tightly.

“The residents around the generating station need not fear because the government will ensure that the station will not cause pollution that breached the international standard,“ he said.

Meanwhile, TNB Chairman Tan Sri Leo Moggie said in his speech earlier that SJSAS was equipped with the latest technology which enabled it to produce the minimum pollution.

PIN/ BERNAMA.COM