kuala lumpur: Malaysia must not only comply with global sustainability standards set by developed countries, but also transition from its own traditional energy sources to renewable energy sources at a determined pace and scale. They should set their own realistic sustainable goals.
According to Energy Industry Council (EIC) regional director Azman Nasir, while developed countries have led the way in sustainability efforts in recent years, Malaysia is prone to making mistakes and is not positioning itself in terms of: It should be noted that it is known to reconsider. Important events such as the Ukraine-Russia war.
He pointed out that before the war, developed countries initially opposed the use of natural gas. However, when European countries’ energy supplies were affected by the war, the decision was reversed and gas was declared acceptable as a form of clean energy.
Azman said that in times of energy scarcity, some Western countries are turning back to another fossil fuel, coal, which they initially opposed.
“Why do we follow their pace and scale? We have to have our own story… We can’t just follow the Western narrative because our situation is not the same ” he said sunbiz In an exclusive interview.
Azman said governments should determine their own pace and scale at which the country slowly transitions away from dependence on fossil fuels, with sufficient resources and progress to achieve its commitments faster compared to developing countries. He said that developed countries should not be pressured by unrealistic targets set by countries with a large number of countries. Countries such as Malaysia.
He questioned why Malaysia should aim for net zero by 2050 rather than an extended timeline or target of 2090, for example.
“The pace will be slower and the transition period will be longer, but (the additional time) can be used to address all the issues in the transition. Second, the need to balance the scale of the transition to renewable energy. there is.
“If it’s too slow or too small, we’re going to run into problems with the profitability of energy projects. The supply chain will have to comply as well,” he said.
Azman explained that if the project is too small, the production volume will not be enough to generate enough profit to sustain the company.
“For example, solar power projects need to be carried out on a large scale. Therefore, large projects generate volumes and therefore become a more cost-effective endeavor, which in turn brings significant profits to the company. Yes,” he said.
He cited a recent report from the EIC that found that just 11% of energy industry leaders believe that interim global targets for net zero will be met, which currently stands at highlights the significant and widening gap between industry realities and the ambitious net-zero targets set by policymakers. 2030 to 35 years.
The outlook for the 2050 target is better, with 45% of respondents continuing to see a path towards achieving the global net zero target.
Participants were slightly more optimistic about achieving their country’s net zero target compared to the global target, and more likely to feel optimistic about achieving their country’s interim net zero target (2030-35). Only 16% of respondents thought so, while 66% thought so. National goals for 2050 are still achievable.
Azman pointed out that many changes could occur in the next 20 years, including technological advancements, human resources and capabilities in the field of renewable energy supply chain capabilities.
“Currently, Malaysia must ensure that renewable projects are implemented on a large scale, but if a project is too large or too many large-scale projects of a similar nature are implemented in parallel. “If the situation arises, there will be a need to strike a balance. The supply chain will not be able to cope and this will lead to raw material shortages,” he pointed out.
Azman said further discussions are needed between governments and energy stakeholders to address transition issues to develop practical solutions. He said it was also appropriate for Malaysia to discuss and engage in dialogue with other Asian countries as the issues faced by Asia were different and unique compared to other regions.