Singapore Signals Readiness to Sell More Electricity to Malaysia

SINGAPORE - - Singapore has signalled willingness to let its power generating firms sell electricity to neighbouring Malaysia beyond a June 15 deadline.

"In response to Tenaga Nasional Berhad's request, the Energy Market Authority EMA granted the approval for PowerSeraya Ltd to export electricity to Malaysia till June 15, 2011," the energy regulator said on Friday in reply to a Reuters query.

"EMA will consider requests for export of electricity on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the electricity demand and supply situation in Singapore and any system security concerns," it added.

EMA said Singapore's total power generation capacity is about 9,800 megawatts MW, while its peak demand for electricity is around 6,500 MW.

Singapore recently began its first-ever cross-border sale of electricity to Malaysia, where supply has been disrupted by the maintenance shutdown of gas production platforms owned by state oil company Petronas.

PowerSeraya, which sold the electricity to Tenaga, is owned by Malaysian company YTL Power.