News Straits Times

GEORGE TOWN: Japan’s Toray Industries Inc Penang operations are going “green” with the installation of an energy plant at its facility here.

The move is expected to see the Toray Group of Companies in Malaysia saving energy by some 20 per cent and carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 30 per cent.

In a statement issued yesterday, Toray said it had concluded a supply contract with Gas Malaysia Energy Advances Sdn Bhd (GMEA) to operate and utilise an energy plant, also known as “Gas Turbine Co-Generation Systems” at Toray’s facility in Prai, Penang.

It said GMEA has undertaken to supply electricity and steam to Toray in Penang for a duration of 15 years, beginning from 2016.

Toray said an investment figure of between RM80 million and RM200 million was set aside for the project which will be situated on 49,000 sq m of land within the grounds of Toray’s unit, Penfabric Sdn Bhd at the Prai Industrial Estate.

“Under this sustainable development arrangement and energy supply agreement, GMEA will install two 16 megawatt-class gas turbines with supplementary firing heat recovery system generators for the supply of electricity and steam needed by Toray’s plants, here,” said Toray Industries (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd managing director Hiroshi Yoshimura.

He said the agreement between both parties was concluded in March this year.

Work is expected to commence this month and it is slated for completion between July and October 2016.

Toray’s investment history in Malaysia spans over four decades with cumulative investments in excess of RM4 billion.

The firm produces many types of films, including polyester film Lumirror, which is used in packing materials and in the magnetic material industries, among others.

Yoshimura said GMEA has undertaken to supply electricity and steam required by Toray’s Penang plants.