MGA Highlighted the role of Gas in a Sustainable Pragmatic Energy Transition at AMCHAM Sustainability Week

Rosman Hamzah, Secretary General of MGA, spoke at AMCHAM Sustainability Week Webinar organised by the American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) on 6^th July 2021.  Themed with the Future of Energy: Powering Our World, MGA Secretary General joined the engaging Panel Session on Day 2 of the Webinar with the conversation topic focusing on Dealing with Carbon.  Moderated by Siobhan Das, AMCHAM’s CEO, the Panel Session interestingly featured panellists from a diverse industry including Dr Hjh Yatela Zainal Abidin, Chief Executive Officer, Sime Darby Foundation, Abdul Rahman Abu Haniffa, Government Affairs & Policy Director, General Electric and Jens Rupp, Head of Environmental Sustainability, Philip Morris Malaysia.  The Webinar started with an opening statement from the panellist sharing an overview of their respective industry significant initiatives in addressing the most pressing environmental issues and bringing forward its sustainable business practices.

Rosman started his opening statement with an introduction to MGA role as the lead advocate in Malaysian gas industry.  He then takes the audience back to the significant history of the energy industry in the early 90s where Malaysia suffered the a nation-wide blackout and how  the Peninsular Gas Utilisation (PGU) pipelines enabled several gas turbine power plants along the west coast to be constructed on fast-track basis.

Further highlighting the importance of gas in the transition of a low carbon economy, Rosman comprehensively concluded the following key takeaways:

1. Over several decades, natural gas has been playing an important role in supplying the energy access to the nation and in the rapid growth of the Malaysian.
2. In addition to gas turbine power plants, gas has been supplied to many industries through the Peninsular Gas Utilisation (PGU) pipeline including the petrochemical industries.
3. Today, natural gas still driving Malaysia’s social-economic growth with gas commanding about 41% as the largest fuel in 2018 Malaysia’s energy mix
4. As a developing country, it is important to balance in between energy security, ensuring affordability and at the same time achieving Malaysia’s reduction emissions target.
5. As the cleanest burning fuel that emits less Co2 compared to other fossil fuels, gas plays a critical role in a pragmatic energy transition.
6. Natural gas is the best partner to expedite the growth of Renewables energy and achieve 31% of Malaysia’s Renewable Energy target by 2025.
7. Going forward, natural gas in all forms will remain the largest fuel in Malaysia’s Energy mix and accelerating the energy transition towards a low carbon economy by 2040.