Figure 24. Power mix – total generation and demand in Singapore, 2011-17

Source: ASEAN Centre for Energy.

The primary resource for power generation in Singapore is gas.

Planned development, including cross-border integration

As Singapore is a fully liberalised power market, there is no central PDP focusing on generation. Instead, the market decides what to build and when. If a potential investor decides to build a new generator, so long as the investor has met the necessary prerequisites for its new plant (e.g. access to land and fuel, and a connection to the grid), the Energy Market Authority will generally grant the necessary generation licence.

Malaysia (Sarawak and Sabah)

There are three vertically integrated utilities in Malaysia, two of which operate on the island of Borneo. In Sabah, Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) operates the electricity system and market, and in Sarawak, they are operated by Sarawak Electricity Supply Company (SESCO). SESB is regulated by EC, while SESCO is regulated by the state government of Sarawak.

Abundant in hydropower resources, Sarawak has a mainly hydro-based power capacity, though natural gas and coal are also utilised. In 2011, the quantity of installed hydroelectric capacity was approximately equal at about 1 GW each. Since then, however, there has been significant investment in hydropower. As of 2017, hydropower made up two-thirds of the power system. Total generation in 2017 was 25 TWh, while total demand was 21 TWh.

Sarawak has an interconnection to West Kalimantan, Indonesia, which is utilised for both economic and power security purposes (see section on Indonesia [West Kalimantan] below).

SESCO has plans to develop the transmission network further to Baleh and Murum, which are regions with significant hydropower potential. This expansion would also potentially open the possibility for power trade with Indonesia (via Batang Ai Point), and to Brunei Darussalam (via Sungai Tujuh Tudan Point). Under the current plan, this line should be developed by 2020. In addition, new transmission lines from Limbang, Lawas, Trusan, Tutoh and the Tinjar river basin would also be connected via Tungku–Kuala Belait in Brunei, then go back to Malaysia via Sungai Tujuh Tudan.

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Figure 25. Power mix – total generation and demand in Sarawak (Malaysia), 2011-17

Source: ASEAN Centre for Energy.

The main power generator is hydro based in Sarawak, while gas and coal also contribute.

On 20 January 2016, Malaysia for the first time exported 50 MW of electricity to West Kalimantan. In total it took four years to develop this interconnection, starting with the power exchange agreement signed on 5 September 2012.

Planned development, including cross-border integration

SESCO develops generation and transmission capacity expansion plans under a number of different scenarios:

High-load growth in Sarawak, particularly the Kuching area.

Aggressive development of energy-intensive industries in Sarawak.

Peninsular Malaysia imports power from Sarawak.

Power export to the Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP–EAGA countries), in line with the ASEAN agenda.

Scenarios 3 and 4 include the cross-border interconnections under discussion as part of the BIMP–EAGA project. While Scenario 4 considers the plan of BIMP–EAGA listed in the APG programme under APAEC 2016-2025, Scenario 3 assumes exports of 2 000 MW of hydropower electricity from Sarawak to Peninsular Malaysia via an HVDC transmission line.

In terms of cross-border transmission lines, a proposed Sipitang interconnection would connect Sabah to Brunei Darussalam, and a proposed 275 kV Kalabakan interconnection would increase the linkages between Malaysia and West Kalimantan. Interconnections to the Philippines are also under consideration, in particular connecting to Mindanao (Dam Road interconnection) and Palawan (Kudat interconnection).

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