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Free Malaysia Today
08-08-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Data centre boom may emit as much carbon as 2mil vehicles, warns group
RimbaWatch warned that the amount of carbon emissions produced by the 14 new data centres planned or currently under construction in Malaysia would be equivalent to adding more than two million passenger vehicles to the roads. PETALING JAYA : An environmental group has warned that Malaysia's booming data centre industry could soon generate as much carbon pollution in a year as the whole of Papua New Guinea. In a report titled 'Climate Impacts of Malaysia's Data Centre Expansion', RimbaWatch estimated that the 14 new data centres planned or currently under construction in Malaysia would add up to 2.2 gigawatts (GW) of capacity, of which 1.7GW has no immediate renewable energy plans. RimbaWatch said this could lead to nearly 13,000 gigawatt-hours of electricity being pulled from Malaysia's mostly fossil fuel-powered grid each year. It said this could release about 9.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent each year, which is comparable to that of countries like Papua New Guinea. 'To put it into perspective, that amount of carbon emissions is equivalent to adding more than two million passenger vehicles to Malaysia's roads,' the group said. According to RimbaWatch's analysis, the 14 new data centres in Malaysia consist of three which were completed between 2023 and November 2024, two currently under expansion, five which are currently under construction, and four which have been proposed. RimbaWatch director Adam Farhan said the group was concerned that the estimated emissions from activities in just one sector could drive an increase in emissions equivalent to that of entire countries. 'The reason for this high figure is the high fossil fuel intensity of Malaysia's grid, which is still overwhelmingly reliant on fossil fuels,' he said. As of 2022, fossil fuels made up about 81% of electricity generation, though more recent estimates place it closer to 90%. While the government plans to retire coal-fired plants by 2044, it also intends to expand gas-fired capacity by 50% to meet the surging demand from energy-intensive facilities like data centres. 'Fossil fuels are the leading driver of global emissions,' said Adam. 'Malaysia must urgently commit to a just and rapid fossil fuel phase-out, especially when planning new infrastructure.' The report also made several recommendations, including the development of a new carbon budget for the data centre sector, approval only for new centres that run on 100% renewable energy, the introduction of transparent public consultations for all projects, and the creation of a water usage plan to manage climate and resource risks. RimbaWatch also called on Malaysia to support global climate efforts such as the proposed Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty, a campaign from a network of over 3,900 civil society organisations aimed at creating a treaty to stop fossil fuel exploration and expansion. Last year, The Straits Times reported that the demand for energy to supply Malaysian data centres in the next 10 years could surpass the available power. It said that electricity demand from data centres in Malaysia was expected to exceed 5,000 megawatts (MW) by 2035, with Tenaga Nasional receiving applications for 11,000MW, equivalent to 40% of Peninsular Malaysia's existing installed power-generation capacity of about 27,000MW. Data centres in Malaysia are mainly located in Selangor and Johor. They also consume vast amounts of water for cooling. A data centre with a capacity of 100MW uses about 1.1 million gallons of water per day for cooling, the equivalent of daily water usage in a city of 10,000 people, according to a US study. On Wednesday, deputy prime minister Fadillah Yusof said the government was working with state regulators to introduce a specific water tariff for data centres and heavy industrial users, while encouraging the adoption of recycled water and district cooling systems to reduce the strain on clean water resources.
The Sun
08-08-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Analysis warns new data centre incentives could add 10 mln tons of emissions annually
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's rapid data centre expansion could significantly drive up national greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new analysis by environmental watchdog RimbaWatch. In its report 'Climate Impacts of Malaysia's Data Centre Expansion', the group estimated that 14 new data centres — including three completed between 2023 and November 2024, two under expansion, five under construction, and four proposed — will add 2.2GW of capacity nationwide. Its director Adam Farhan said in a statement today, of this, 1.7GW has no immediate renewable energy plans, meaning it will depend on Malaysia's largely fossil fuel-powered grid. 'Based on projected annual consumption of 12,920 GWh, the facilities could generate 9.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e) a year once fully operational. 'That's like putting over two million more cars on Malaysian roads. It's also equivalent to the 2023 emissions of entire countries like Papua New Guinea,' he added. Adam said the high emissions figure stems from the country's energy mix, which in 2022 was 81% fossil fuels. He emphasised that Malaysia's plan to increase gas-fired power plant capacity by 50% to cater to rising data centre demand is inconsistent with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. 'Therefore, we urge a rapid fossil fuel phase-out in data centre expansion, with a sector-wide carbon budget aligned to the 1.5°C target. 'Additionally, only centres running on 100% renewable energy and adding extra capacity to the grid should be approved, while water use must be limited to protect household and sector needs.' He also stressed that all data centre projects must also undergo mandatory environmental impact assessments, which should be open for public consultation and permanently accessible to the public. 'As the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) plans a new 2025 investment incentive framework for data centres with carbon and water indicators, we urge the ministry to set and enforce strict emissions and water-use limits. 'This should include near- and long-term water budgets that account for household needs, other economic sectors, and climate risks.' The full RimbaWatch analysis and methodology are available at
The Sun
08-08-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Analysis warns new data centre incentives could add 10 million tons of emissions annually
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia's rapid data centre expansion could significantly drive up national greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new analysis by environmental watchdog RimbaWatch. In its report 'Climate Impacts of Malaysia's Data Centre Expansion', the group estimated that 14 new data centres — including three completed between 2023 and November 2024, two under expansion, five under construction, and four proposed — will add 2.2GW of capacity nationwide. Its director Adam Farhan said in a statement today, of this, 1.7GW has no immediate renewable energy plans, meaning it will depend on Malaysia's largely fossil fuel-powered grid. 'Based on projected annual consumption of 12,920 GWh, the facilities could generate 9.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO₂e) a year once fully operational. 'That's like putting over two million more cars on Malaysian roads. It's also equivalent to the 2023 emissions of entire countries like Papua New Guinea,' he added. Adam said the high emissions figure stems from the country's energy mix, which in 2022 was 81% fossil fuels. He emphasised that Malaysia's plan to increase gas-fired power plant capacity by 50% to cater to rising data centre demand is inconsistent with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. 'Therefore, we urge a rapid fossil fuel phase-out in data centre expansion, with a sector-wide carbon budget aligned to the 1.5°C target. 'Additionally, only centres running on 100% renewable energy and adding extra capacity to the grid should be approved, while water use must be limited to protect household and sector needs.' He also stressed that all data centre projects must also undergo mandatory environmental impact assessments, which should be open for public consultation and permanently accessible to the public. 'As the Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) plans a new 2025 investment incentive framework for data centres with carbon and water indicators, we urge the ministry to set and enforce strict emissions and water-use limits. 'This should include near- and long-term water budgets that account for household needs, other economic sectors, and climate risks.'
The Sun
02-07-2025
- General
- The Sun
Call for independent probe into Petronas over blast
PETALING JAYA: Environmental watchdog RimbaWatch has urged the Selangor government to launch an independent inquiry into Petronas Gas Berhad and several government agencies following the April 1 gas pipeline explosion in Putra Heights, which injured 145 people and damaged over 200 homes. The call comes after a report by the Occupational Safety and Health Department concluded that the blast was caused by unstable soil and groundwater accumulation, leading to 24.3cm of soil subsidence over 25 years. The report, released on Monday, found no evidence of negligence. RimbaWatch has challenged this conclusion, arguing that Malaysian law defines negligence as the failure to exercise reasonable care, particularly when such failure results in harm. 'Given this definition, a number of questions remain unanswered,' the group said in a statement. Citing the Petroleum (Safety Measures) Act 1984 and Gas Supply Act 1993, RimbaWatch stressed that pipeline operators may bear civil or criminal liability if faults in design, monitoring or maintenance are found. It said Petronas has consistently promoted its pipeline infrastructure as long-lasting and monitored using advanced systems, including aerial and ground patrols, and real-time technologies such as Scada and PiriGIS. Given these capabilities, RimbaWatch questioned how such significant soil movement went unnoticed. It pointed out that environmental impact assessments (EIA) have been mandatory since 1988 and questioned whether the original EIA for the pipeline, laid in 2000, adequately accounted for long-term geological risks, such as groundwater buildup and subsidence. 'Who approved the EIA and who was responsible for monitoring its implementation over the years?' It also highlighted a history of pipeline failures, particularly the Sabah-Sarawak Gas Pipeline, which has reportedly experienced explosions and leaks since 2014 and was decommissioned earlier this year due to persistent maintenance problems. 'This raises serious doubts about whether Petronas has put in place more stringent monitoring of high-risk pipeline sections, particularly after its experience with the Sabah-Sarawak Gas Pipeline.' RimbaWatch also called for scrutiny of government agencies involved in land-use planning, questioning how approval was given to build dense housing near a major gas pipeline. The organisation warned that framing the disaster as purely environmental, with no accountability assigned, reflects a broader trend in Malaysia's response to environmental disasters. It cited the 2022 Kampung Iboi floods and Batang Kali landslide as examples in which systemic accountability was lacking. To underscore its point, RimbaWatch referred to the 2018 Revolution Pipeline explosion in Pennsylvania, which was similarly triggered by a landslide but resulted in nine criminal charges and a US$30 million (RM125.82 million) fine for the operator. 'We call for the Selangor government to commission an independent investigation, supported by local, regional and international experts in engineering, health and safety, geology, and law, to address these critical questions and uphold economic and environmental justice for the residents of Putra Heights,' it said. RimbaWatch stressed that such a probe must be independent, warning that fossil fuel companies and regulators should not be allowed to escape potential responsibility for a disaster of this magnitude. At a press conference on Monday, Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said investigations into the gas pipeline explosion at Putra Heights concluded that the incident was not caused by sabotage or negligence but rather by long-term ground subsidence. He also said police found no evidence of sabotage or negligence contributing to the incident. The investigation was led by the Occupational Safety and Health Department, alongside the Minerals and Geoscience Department, Public Works Department, Fire and Rescue Department and police.
CNA
01-07-2025
- General
- CNA
Malaysia gas pipeline inferno caused by unstable soil: Authorities
KUALU LUMPUR: A massive gas explosion that shook Malaysia in April was caused by prolonged stress on a pipeline due to unstable soil conditions, authorities said, adding there was no foul play or negligence. The explosion in the town of Puchong on the outskirts of the capital Kuala Lumpur injured over 100 people, forced the evacuation of more than 1,000 people and destroyed nearby homes and vehicles. Malaysia's Occupational Safety and Health Department said the soil holding up the pipeline where the explosion happened was "soft and moist" and moved, causing long term stress lines to form on the pipe's surface. Environmental watchdog RimbaWatch however urged authorities on Tuesday to investigate Petronas and relevant government agencies for negligence in monitoring the pipeline. "Given that the subsidence occurred over a long period of time, why did Petronas' various 24/7 safety measures ... fail in detecting such a significant occurrence of soil subsidence in such a high-risk area?" RimbaWatch said in a statement.
