LTMS-PIP signing postponed for another half a year

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's hope to witness the signing of the Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore Power Integration Project (LTMS-PIP) will have to wait after it was postponed for another six months.
Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said this is due to participating countries not being able to stabilise their existing power grid before exporting energy to other countries in need.
"The setbacks that we are facing are not a big issue, Singapore is not ready to channel and receive electricity amounting to 100 megawatts (MW) yet.
"We need to look at this issue thoroughly to ensure their power grid can receive and channel that amount of electricity," Maximus said when met by reporters at the 33rd Asean Ministers on Energy Meeting (AMEM) here.
Maximus said the project which was endorsed at the 32nd AMEM in Laos, would serve as a pathfinder to enhance multilateral electricity trading beyond neighbouring borders.
The Malaysian officials are exploring whether the LTMS-PIP can be carried out in two phases.
"On the first phase, Laos, Thailand and Malaysia can embark on this project with Malaysia buying the proposed 100MW from Laos through Thailand.
"This multilateral transaction will be much easier to conclude as the electricity utilities in these three countries are vertically integrated and hence only a Power Purchasing Agreement needs to be signed," Maximus said.
He added that the LTMS-PIP project would realise Asean's dreams to have a greater utilisation of shared resources through the Asean Power Grid.
Meanwhile, the government has agreed to set up a Indonesia-Malaysia technical working committee to form a cross power station from Sumatra to Sarawak.
"We are setting up a country joint development project on transport of power between the countries as well," Maximus said.