KUALA LUMPUR: Peninsular Malaysia’s electricity generation capacity has reached 26,152 megawatts with an energy reserve of 24 percent, according to Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. The announcement was made during an oral question and answer session at the Dewan Negara, emphasizing the government’s commitment to securing a sustainable and affordable energy supply.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fadillah, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister, reported that Sarawak’s electricity generation capacity stands at 5,745 megawatts with a 25 percent energy reserve, while Sabah’s capacity is 1,237 megawatts with a 6.1 percent energy reserve. The minister highlighted the government’s focus on three core aspects: energy supply security, sustainability, and affordability for consumers.

Fadillah responded to an inquiry from Senator Baharuddin Ahmad regarding the current status of electricity generation and reserves across the Peninsula, Sabah, and Sarawak. The senator a
lso questioned whether the existing supply could meet the demands of the rapidly growing data center industry.

To address these concerns, Fadillah explained that the government had established the Planning and Implementation Committee for Electricity Supply and Tariff (JPPPET). This committee is tasked with determining energy requirements and ensuring a sufficient supply through contracts with power generation utility companies, as well as setting tariffs.

Fadillah also noted the JPPPET’s projections for electricity supply requirements for data centers, which are expected to reach 12.9 gigawatts by 2030 and 20.9 gigawatts by 2040. To accommodate this expected increase in demand, the government has approved a development plan for Peninsular Malaysia’s power development from 2024 to 2050, which includes new gas-based generation capacity and an increase in renewable energy.

As an immediate measure, the ministry has identified existing power plants for extended operation, acknowledging that the completion of
new power plants typically requires four to five years.