The development of electricity generation facilities in Peninsular Malaysia

Abstract

The first public supplies of electricity in Peninsular Malaysia commenced operation in Penang in 1904 and was followed in 1905 in Kuala Lumpur with generation from a small hydro station with two 400 KW Pelton Wheel Turbo-Alternators on the Gombak River. This was followed in 1919 with a diesel station in the centre of Kuala Lumpur at Gombak Lane and generation with steam turbines at Bungsar Power Station was initiated. Public electricity supplies were also inaugurated in the other main towns of Ipoh, Seremban, Malacca and Johore Bahru, utilizing diesel generator sets. A Private Licensee, The Perak River Hydro Electric Power Co. Ltd., commenced operation in the Kinta Valley in Perak with generation at Malim Nawar - 30 MW (steam) Chenderoh 22 MW (steam). The late 1920's - 27 MW (hydro) and Batu Gajah saw the start of major electricity supplies in Peninsular Malaysia and the installation of larger steam units was initiated in the 1930's up to the outbreak of the Second World War when Malaysia was occupied by the Japanese. At the commencement of the war, the total installed capacity was about 140,000 kw and by the time the war ended in 1945, due to the denial policy of the British Forces and the inavailability of spares for repairs and maintenance, only about 40% of these plants were available for generation.