By IANS
Bintulu (Malaysia) : Malaysia has allocated $1.5 billion for the development of renewable energy under the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) project, WAM news agency reported Tuesday.
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi made the announcement Monday. The projects are part of the Ninth Malaysia Plan.
The projects would be developed in the central region of the eastern Malysia’s Sarawak state and would cover 70,700 sq km in the Bintulu, Kapit, Sibu, Mukah and Sarikei divisions.
“So far, the central region’s potential had not been developed due, among others, to its scarce population. With development coming in now, there will be huge economic and social impact,” Badawi said while launching the Score at the Bintulu Promenade in eastern Malaysia’s Sarawak state.
The prime minister said that with the full implementation of the Score master plan by 2030, gross domestic product (GDP) of Sarawak would grow five-fold and its annual GDP growth rate would increase from current five percent to sev percent.
Badawi added that he has directed to evolve a “green development framework” to ensure that Score’s development is environmentally friendly.
“This is to ensure that our energy resources will be developed in a sustainable and environmentally sound manner,” Badawi said.