| Summary: | excessive burden on oil. Numerous altenatives have often been suggested such as natural gas, hydropower, coal, solar, nuclear, wind and wave energy. However upon close examination it is of the opinion that Malaysia's energy needs for the next twenty years shallbe significantly fulfiled by only three of them namely oil, natural gas and hydropower. The enormous natural gas reserves are set to come onstream once the planned projects are commissioned. The Paka power plant shall pioneer the massive use of domestic natural gas resource when completed in 1984. The switch to gas seems highly optimistic with the enormous quantities recently discovered and projections have indicated natural gas to be a major power source by the 1990's. The successful emergence of hydropower as a major energy supply largely rest upon the success of the numerous projects planned for implementation notably the large Pelagus scheme in Sarawak, which when commissioned can provide Malaysia more the sufficient of her electrical needs. Nuclear power, though technically attractive have been shelved due to the host of problems associated with its use ranging from excessive costs, technological problems, safety hazards and waste disposal problems. Wind energy utilization is not technically or economically feasible due to the poor wind conditions characterised by its low speeds and irregularities while wave and geothrmal energy resources are not technically available in this country. New conventional resources such as solar energy and biomass shall not be significant until major technological breakthroughs are mada to improve efficiency and reduce costs. However they may provide minimal requirements for the rural domestic uses if sucessfully implemented.
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