- Malaysia can become third largest solar cells producer

MALAYSIA could become the third largest producer of solar cells after China and Germany once related projects were completed next year.

The country’s aspiration is to increase its market share to 17% of world production and reach number two position behind China by 2020.

Under the Economic Trans­for­mation Programme (ETP), Malaysia will use its its current capabilities in producing semiconductors advantage to go into the solar industry.

It indicated that similarities in the solar and semiconductor value chain can help the country latch onto the global solar growth.

Malaysia has a strong starting position in solar. The country already has companies across the entire value chain.

To reach this goal, Malaysia needs to increase its cell and solar wafer production capacity by 10 times and silicon production capacity by 23 times by 2020.

Despite astronomical costs compared to oil, coal and other renewable energy sources, the global solar market has grown by 50% between 2005 and 2010.

This year, the global solar market is expected to hit 10 gigawatts in yearly supply and rake in RM160bil in revenue.

While solar is currently expensive, average installed system prices have dropped to about RM16.40 per watt.

Prices are expected to fall further to RM6.70 per watt or lower in 2020.

The solar market is expected to grow at 30% per year until 2015 and drop to 25% until 2020.

If solar’s energy share among renewable energies reaches its forecast of 5% in 2020, this will translate into global cumulative installed capacity of 560 gigawatts.

By then, an annual demand of 113 gigawatts will bring RM918bil of revenue in 2020, where Asia will drive a significant portion of the demand and supply in 2020.

- ETP Different From Previous Development Plans, Says Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today stressed that the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP)is different from development plans previously implemented.

"What we are doing now has previously not been attempted. There are six distinguishing factors between the ETP and whatever previous plans," he said at the launch of the ETP Roadmap here Monday.

The first factor, he said, is that the ETP is a programme and not a plan.

Najib said the significant difference in the ETP is that it is a programme containing specific projects and specific action with a timeline, project owner and a measure of performance.

The programme has 131 Entry Point Projects (EPP), 12 reporting labs and 60 business opportunities, all aimed at creating 3.3 million additional workers.

Secondly, the ETP he added, is based on Gross National Income (GNI) and provides a clear direction.

He also explained that the aim of the government is to achieve a GNI per capita of US$15,000 in 2020.

In the 10 years to come, 131 EPPs and 60 business opportunities will respectively spur the additional GNI of US$138 billion and US$112 billion.

When combined with the organic growth from the National Key Economic Areas (NKEAs)and non-NKEA, the total GNI in 2020 is estimated to reach US$523 billion.

Thirdly, Najib said, the ETP is jointly formed with the private sector with an open and transparent approach, where it is also market friendly based on merit and needs.

He said to strengthen transparency and take into account the views of the people, the ETP Programme had been exhibited and discussed together with 13,000 people through Open Days, including publishing where government contracts have been given on the government website.

Fourthly, the ETP will change the role of the government from being the financier to facilitator to reduce the public sector spending, where 92 per cent of investments for the ETP is from the private sector and 72 per cent will be contributed by domestic direct investment.

Fifthly, the ETP has the quality of being inclusive where all Malaysians will get to feel, no matter how small, the positive impact from the implementation of projects under it.

"Finally, as a whole, all 133 entry point projects will cover the entire country. A total of 68 entry point projects will benefit Sarawak and 71 for Sabah, as well as 106 for those in the rural areas.

"Generally, this is in line with the ratio of the urban and rural population in the country," Najib explained.

He also said that specifically, for those in the rural areas, the EPP is expected to create 323,596 new jobs in 2020 and this will benefit owners of Native Customary Rights (NCR) land, especially in Sabah and Sarawak.

The Prime Minister hoped the ETP will bring benefits to the women's work force.

At present, only 3.95 million women aged between 15 to 64 are working.

"It is clear that the ETP will embrace all layers of the community. The impact of eventual development will be experienced by all Malaysians, with no one being let out of the mainstream of economic success," he said.

-- BERNAMA