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IMPSA (M) Sdn Bhd, a port crane and renewable
energy player, is pursuing over RM1bil worth of
contracts to supply hydro-power plant components
in Asia.
IMPSA is beefing up its energy business as
demand for port crane has plunged due to the
global economic downturn.
Managing director Juan Aguero said IMPSA was
currently involved in the supply of four of
eight hydro-power turbines to the 2,400-megawatt
Bakun dam project.
A turbine being manufactured at the IMPSA plant
in Lumut. Datuk Moehamad Izat Emir (inset) says
with such facility, it envi sions becoming the
leader in the renewable energy market in
South-East Asia.
“We have delivered equipment to the site and are
proceeding with the installations,” he told
StarBiz.
The contract to design, manufacture, assemble
and commissioning of the machines at the Bakun
project is valued at RM300mil.
The other part of the job in supplying and
installing the turbines was awarded to Alstom
Malaysia.
The Bakun project is expected to be completed in
mid-2011.
Besides Bakun, IMPSA was also keen to
participate in other hydro-power projects in
Malaysia and other countries in the region, said
executive chairman Datuk Moehamad Izat Emir.
“In Malaysia, there are hydro-power projects in
Hulu Terengganu and Ulu Jelai in Sarawak,
tenders for which are currently ongoing.
“IMPSA is also very committed to be part of the
huge hydro development in east Malaysia,
particularly projects under the Sarawak Corridor
of Renewable Energy.
“The country has a lot of potential in
developing its hydro-power plants as 80% of the
present electricity source is generated by
fossil fuel.
“Meanwhile, countries like Brazil, Venezuela and
Argentina depend only on 20% fossil fuel to
generate electricity,” said Moehamad Izat.
Aguero said IMPSA was also eyeing other
renewable energy projects in Asia, particularly
in Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.
“With our manufacturing plant in Malaysia, we
can cover the whole of Asia,” he said, adding
that IMPSA also had a plant each in Argentina
and Brazil.
Moehamad Izat said IMPSA’s capabilities also
included services such as rehabilitation and
upgrading of existing hydro-electric power
plants.
“Wind power generation is another important area
of IMPSA’s contribution to renewable energies.
Locally, IMPSA is undertaking research to
validate wind data in certain locations to
assess the wind potential for development.
“With renewable energy prospects bright, IMPSA
recently acquired three computerised numerical
machines for its manufacturing plant in Lumut,
Perak.
“With the world-class production facility that
we have in Malaysia, the only one of its kind in
South-East Asia, we envision becoming the leader
in the fast-growing renewable energy market in
the region.”
On the port crane business, Aguero said volumes
at ports had started to pick up.
“These are positive signs and if the economy
keeps improving, we expect orders for cranes to
return by the end of 2010.
“Currently, we are working on five super-post
panamax cranes for Port of Tanjung Pelepas,” he
said.
IMPSA is a joint-venture between Malaysian
investors and Industrias Metalurgicas Pescarmona
SA, a private company that originated in
Argentina and has more than 100 years of
experience in this high-technology industry.
Source: The STAR MARITIME
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