High coal prices putting pressure on Malaysia power sector

Fuel source: A tug boat pulls a coal barge along the Mahakam River in Samarinda, East Kalimantan. Coal plays a large role in Malaysia’s energy scheme and is fully imported, with some 63 is imported from Indonesia. — Reuters

 PETALING JAYA: Global coal prices, which have been on a steady rise, hit a six-year high early this month, increasingly putting pressure on the power generation industry in the country.

Coal plays a large role in Malaysia’s energy scheme and is fully imported. Some 63%, is imported from Indonesia, with another 24% coming from Australia and the remainder from nations as far away as Russia (11%) and South Africa (2%).