Coal price surge jolts Malaysia’s power costs, economy minister warns of direct impact

The recent rise in coal prices to US$148 per tonne as of September 10, 2026, is expected to increase electricity generation costs, according to Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir.

In August, coal prices rose moderately, while peak electricity demand significantly increased.

Despite this, the current electricity supply system remains capable of managing the demand within its reserve margin.

The government aims to ensure sufficient generation capacity and resilience in the energy system, particularly amid rising prices of coal, crude oil, and liquefied natural gas.

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 — The increase in coal prices to US$148 per tonne on September 10, 2026 will directly impact the cost of electricity generation, said Economy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir today.

He said coal prices showed a more moderate increase in August to US$130.67 per tonne from US$129.63 per tonne in July, while peak daily electricity demand reached 21,949 megawatts on September 9, which was 4.7 per cent higher than the August average.

Akmal Nasrullah added that the increase was still within the reserve margin range that the existing electricity supply system could accommodate.

“The government will continue to ensure that the generation capacity and electricity supply system are sufficient to support economic activities, meet the needs of the people and strengthen the resilience of the country’s energy system,” he said during a briefing on the global energy crisis on TV1 today.

Apart from coal, the price of crude oil and liquefied natural gas also experienced an increase with the average price of Brent crude oil in August increasing 8.9 per cent to US$90.88 per barrel compared to US$83.42 per barrel in July.

Akmal Nasrullah said the daily price of Brent also soared above US$120 per barrel this week compared to a lower average in August.

In addition, the average price of liquefied natural gas rose 13.2 per cent from US$19.32 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) in July to US$21.87 in August and as of mid-September, LNG prices were approaching US$30 per MMBtu.

Akmal Nasrullah said geopolitical and supply route disruptions could still trigger price spikes in the short term even as the global market adjusts.

“In this situation, the government will continue to ensure fuel supply security until December 2026 through three approaches, namely diversifying import sources, optimising domestic fuel production and strengthening long-term supply agreements,” he added.

According to him, the strategy of diversifying supply sources continues to be strengthened by sourcing crude oil and petroleum products from various regions, including the Americas, as well as exploring alternative sources from the African continent.

Akmal Nasrullah said this move is aimed at reducing dependence on any one country or supply route, especially as energy trade flows from West Asia continue to face uncertainty.

Malaysia and Thailand also strengthened energy cooperation through the signing of a production sharing contract and gas sales agreement for Block A-18-01 in the Malaysia-Thailand Joint Development Area to open up space for investment, maintain production and ensure long-term value for both countries.

He added that international markets have been adjusting since March 2026 through inventory adjustments, optimising supply sources and redirecting trade routes to reduce the impact of disruptions to raw materials and production inputs.

“The government’s priority is to ensure that the domestic supply chain continues to function, the supply of basic necessities must be sufficient and global cost pressures do not excessively affect the well-being of the people and the continuity of economic activities,” he added.

Meanwhile, Akmal Nasrullah said job losses increased to 68,177 workers for the period from January to September 16, an increase of 15,196 workers compared to the same period in 2025 involving the manufacturing and wholesale and retail trade sectors.

He added that Socso has implemented job relocation for 143,653 workers for the period from January to September 11 through the Employment Insurance System and the MYFutureJobs portal. — Bernama

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据经济部长阿克马尔·纳斯鲁拉·莫哈末·纳西尔称，煤炭价格近期上涨至每吨148美元（截至2026年9月10日），预计将增加发电成本。

8月份，煤炭价格小幅上涨，而用电高峰需求大幅增加。

尽管如此，目前的电力供应系统仍然能够在储备余量范围内满足需求。

政府的目标是确保能源系统拥有充足的发电能力和韧性，尤其是在煤炭、原油和液化天然气价格不断上涨的情况下。

吉隆坡，9月18日讯——经济部长阿克马尔·纳斯鲁拉·莫哈末·纳西尔今天表示，煤炭价格将于2026年9月10日上涨至每吨148美元，这将直接影响发电成本。

他表示，8 月份煤炭价格涨幅较为温和，从 7 月份的每吨 129.63 美元涨至每吨 130.67 美元，而 9 月 9 日的日均用电高峰达到 21949 兆瓦，比 8 月份的平均水平高出 4.7%。

阿克马尔·纳斯鲁拉补充说，此次增幅仍在现有电力供应系统能够容纳的储备余量范围内。

“政府将继续确保发电能力和电力供应系统足以支持经济活动，满足人民的需求，并增强国家能源系统的韧性，”他今天在TV1电视台关于全球能源危机的简报会上说。

除了煤炭外，原油和液化天然气的价格也出现上涨，8 月份布伦特原油的平均价格上涨 8.9%，达到每桶 90.88 美元，而 7 月份为每桶 83.42 美元。

阿克马尔·纳斯鲁拉表示，本周布伦特原油日价格也飙升至每桶120美元以上，而8月份的平均价格则较低。

此外，液化天然气的平均价格从 7 月份的每百万英热单位 (MMBtu) 19.32 美元上涨了 13.2%，到 8 月份涨至 21.87 美元，截至 9 月中旬，液化天然气价格已接近每 MMBtu 30 美元。

阿克马尔·纳斯鲁拉表示，即使全球市场正在调整，地缘政治和供应链中断仍可能在短期内引发价格飙升。

“在这种情况下，政府将继续通过三种方式确保燃料供应安全，直至2026年12月，即实现进口来源多元化、优化国内燃料生产和加强长期供应协议，”他补充道。

据他介绍，公司正通过从包括美洲在内的各个地区采购原油和石油产品，以及探索来自非洲大陆的替代来源，不断加强供应来源多元化的战略。

阿克马尔·纳斯鲁拉表示，此举旨在减少对任何单一国家或供应路线的依赖，尤其是在西亚能源贸易持续面临不确定性的情况下。

马来西亚和泰国还通过签署马来西亚-泰国联合开发区 A-18-01 区块的生产分成合同和天然气销售协议，加强了能源合作，为投资开辟空间，维持生产，并确保两国长期价值。

他还补充说，自 2026 年 3 月以来，国际市场一直在通过调整库存、优化供应来源和重新调整贸易路线来减少原材料和生产投入中断的影响。

他补充说：“政府的首要任务是确保国内供应链继续运转，基本必需品的供应必须充足，全球成本压力不会过度影响人民福祉和经济活动的持续性。”

与此同时，阿克马尔·纳斯鲁拉表示，从1月到9月16日，失业人数增加到68177人，比2025年同期增加了15196人，涉及制造业、批发和零售贸易部门。

他补充说，社险公司已通过就业保险系统和MYFutureJobs门户网站，为1月至9月11日期间143,653名工人实施了工作调动。——马新社

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