Credit : Bernama Business's X
MELAKA, November 4, 2026 – Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof has urged timely decisions, coordinated planning and the ability to deliver electricity infrastructure before supply constraints start to hold back Malaysia’s growth, Bernama reported.
Fadillah, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, made the call when officiating the CGNEI Gas Turbine Power Committee 2026 Work Conference at the Edra Melaka Power Plant in Melaka today.
He said Malaysia’s electricity system must keep pace as industries expand and the economy becomes more digital, stressing that energy security is fundamental to the country’s development and economic resilience.
“The infrastructure we develop today must serve the needs of tomorrow,” he said.
Peak demand projected to rise
Citing government growth projections, Fadillah said peak electricity demand in Peninsular Malaysia could rise from 21.3 gigawatts in 2026 to 33.5 gigawatts by 2035.
“This is a substantial increase in less than a decade,” he said.
He noted that Malaysia’s growing role in data centres, artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing and other high-value industries brings both considerable opportunities and challenges.
“These investments can create quality employment, strengthen local enterprises and advance our technological capabilities. They also place greater demands on our electricity system and supporting infrastructure,” he said.
Fadillah said emerging data centre developments in Melaka showed this need clearly, and that the opportunities being explored by Melaka Corporation (MCorp) and Edra underlined the importance of matching digital investment with available electricity, grid capacity, water and other essential utilities.
Grid must deliver the power
He called for greater flexibility in power flows across Peninsular Malaysia, saying this would help the government respond to changing demand patterns, accommodate new generation and support the integration of renewable energy.
According to Bernama, Fadillah stressed that a new power plant can only fulfil its purpose when the wider network is able to deliver its electricity safely and efficiently to where it is needed. For this reason, he said, the government places strong emphasis on strengthening the capacity and resilience of the national grid, with sustained attention on grid development, digitalisation and demand-side management.
He added that gas turbine technology continues to play an important role in Malaysia’s power generation, providing dependable electricity and operational flexibility that support grid stability and complement the growing share of variable renewable energy.
Fadillah also cautioned that geopolitical tensions, fuel price volatility, supply chain disruptions and climate-related risks can affect both the availability and the cost of energy.
“These challenges demand careful judgment as we work to maintain security of supply, protect affordability and advance our climate commitments,” he said.
He said every investment and technological advance should ultimately bring meaningful benefits to the people the government serves.
“Our responsibility is to turn this direction into delivery. That means clear implementation milestones, sound governance and close coordination between government and industry,” he said.
Melaka training centre eyes regional role
At the same conference, CGN Energy International Holdings Co Ltd (CGNEI) chairman Zhang Chaoqun said the Gas Turbine Skills Training Centre at the Edra Melaka Power Plant aims to become a leading platform for international gas turbine talent development, technical exchange and industry cooperation.
“The energy transition presents new challenges for the gas-fired power generation industry, but it also creates new opportunities for international cooperation,” Zhang said.
He said CGNEI hopes to work with partners through two platforms: the Melaka training centre, as a shared base for training skilled professionals for the wider gas turbine industry, and the gas turbine power generation committee, which it intends to develop as an open platform for companies across the supply chain, particularly from China, Malaysia and the wider East and Southeast Asian region.
Zhang added that the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and the digital economy is driving substantial investment in data centres, making gas turbine technology an increasingly important source of stable power for the computing industry.
Source : Bernama
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