Developing Skilled Energy Talent Key To Malaysia’s Power Generation Future
By Mikhail Raj Abdullah
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 Bernama) -- The fourth annual Gas Turbine Power Generation Conference, to be hosted by Edra Power Holdings Sdn Bhd (Edra) on November 4, is set to play a pivotal role in highlighting the importance of developing skilled energy talent to support Malaysia’s expanding power generation sector.
Organised by CGN Energy International Holdings Co Ltd (CGNEI), Edra’s shareholder, the conference will take a novel approach by bringing participants closer to the practical operations of sophisticated gas turbine power generation systems.
For the first time, the conference will be held at the newly established CGNEI Gas Turbine Skills Training Centre (CGNEI GTSTC), located within the Edra Melaka Power Plant (EMPP), providing participants with a unique opportunity to connect technical knowledge with real-world power plant operations.
CGNEI GTSTC deputy head Calvin Low said the centre was positioned as a world-class training hub, designed to go beyond conventional classroom training by connecting technical learning with the practical demands of operating a power plant.
Low said it was well-positioned to produce professionals in gas turbine power generation.
"The longer-term ambition of these efforts is to contribute to talent development across Malaysia’s wider power generation industry," he said in a statement today.
These national objectives would be further supported by EMPP, an independent power producer (IPP) owned and operated by Edra and recognised as Southeast Asia’s largest combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant, which plays a significant role in Malaysia’s energy landscape.
TRAINING AT CGNEI GTSTC DIFFERENT FROM HOTEL BALLROOM COURSES
From a power generation perspective, CGNEI GTSTC was established because it provides training at one of the most efficient gas-fired power plants currently in operation, he said, adding that the region faced a shortage of skilled manpower.
“Being able to look closely at a state-of-the-art gas turbine power plant after studying it is what makes CGNEI GTSTC different from a hotel ballroom course,” said Low.
Power generation industry leaders, technology providers, technical experts and other stakeholders will converge in the historical city of Melaka to exchange knowledge, explore technological advancements and strengthen collaboration across the gas turbine power generation value chain.
Low said the industry needed a place where operators, maintenance personnel, reliability engineers and young graduates could share practical knowledge and learn together from a live operating plant.
"To this end, the centre draws on actual operating experience and real-world examples to help participants apply technical concepts to plant operations," he said.
He said this approach also facilitated knowledge transfer from experienced engineers, technicians and operators to younger personnel, helping to preserve critical operational expertise and strengthen workforce capabilities.
Technical assessments at EMPP cover operations, mechanical maintenance, electrical maintenance, and control and instrumentation, helping to identify competency gaps and guide targeted development plans.
CGNEI-EDRA’S ROLE VITAL IN MALAYSIA’S ENERGY TRANSITION
Besides serving as a key platform for advancing the company's “gas-fired power leadership” initiatives, the centre also supports the growing need to maintain such systems as Malaysia expands its energy infrastructure to meet rising electricity demand and support the country's energy transition, he said.
Officially launched earlier this year, the centre represents Malaysia's first specialised gas turbine skills training centre and CGN's primary international hub for gas-fired power talent development and technical research and development.
The conference also takes on added significance as Malaysia is expected to see significant growth in gas-fired power generation, driven by industrial expansion, data centre development and the need to replace ageing generation assets.
The government expects approximately nine gigawatts (GW) of gas-fired generation capacity to be deployed by 2032, reinforcing the role of CCGT technology in supporting energy security and grid stability.
Against this backdrop, Edra, through the training centre at EMPP, is strengthening technical competency development and knowledge transfer among its workforce, with the longer-term ambition of contributing to talent development across Malaysia's wider power generation industry.
ENERGY TALENT TRAINING IN LINE WITH TVET UNDER MADANI FRAMEWORK
The growing need for specialised energy talent also reflects Malaysia's broader emphasis on technical and vocational education and training (TVET) under the Malaysia MADANI framework.
The framework seeks to strengthen workforce capabilities, improve employability and support the country's transition towards higher-value industries, the statement said.
Elaborating on the training, CGNEI GTSTC head of training and development Fauziah Hassan said the emphasis was on ensuring that training translated into demonstrable competency and the ability to perform responsibilities safely and independently, while also strengthening cooperation with institutions and universities.
Looking ahead, she said the centre planned to strengthen structured on-the-job training, progressively introduce simulator- and scenario-based learning, and expand technical development in advanced gas turbine technologies, digitalisation, automation, data analytics, renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Sharing his experience, EMPP operations engineer Muhd Afiq Azfar Mohd Asri said the training had strengthened his technical foundation and helped him approach operational issues more systematically.
“Teamwork, communication, situational awareness and making the right decisions at the right time are equally important in power plant operations,” he said.
While the centre's initial focus remained on Edra and CGNEI personnel, Low said its longer-term aspiration was to extend its expertise and facilities to the wider Malaysian power generation industry through partnerships with industry players and academic institutions.
"As Malaysia's energy sector evolves, sustained investment in technical training, practical experience and knowledge transfer will be essential to building a workforce capable of supporting the country's future power generation needs.
“CGNEI GTSTC should not become a monument on the edge of a power plant but a working piece of the region’s generation capability,” Low added.
-- BERNAMA