Malaysia’s Malakoff eyes desalination in global advance

Malaysian power and water engineering firm, Malakoff Corporation, is looking to expand its operation and maintenance (O&M) arm, Teknik Janakuasa, beyond its home market with an emphasis that includes desalination.

Teknik’s vice president, Rosli Abdul Hamid, said the company sought to use its established the brand name in the O&M field to win opportunities in the Middle East, South East Asia, South Asia and North Africa in particular.

“We are looking at expanding in places like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. In South East Asia, we are looking to offer our services in Indonesia more aggressively. There are discussions going on in Philippines while India and Bangladesh are being pursued more closely,” he said.

Growth for the company will primarily come from abroad, Rosli explained, as opportunities domestically are limited to in-house business from the generation assets of Malakoff. Teknik’s main O&M rival in Malaysia is the national power utility, Tenaga Nasional.

Teknik began its international foray in 2006 when it was awarded an O&M contract for the Shuaibah-Phase III power and water plant in Saudi Arabia comprising a 900 MW oil- fired power plant and a 880,000 m3/d multi-stage flash and reverse osmosis desalination plant. In 2007, together with Hyflux of Singapore, Teknik won an O&M contract for a 200,000 m3/day seawater desalination plant in Algeria. Rosli would not estimate the annual revenue of Teknik’s overseas operations.

Rosli said the company is also focused on promoting its water technology and desalination segment in the Association of South East Asian Nations region especially in the oil and gas industry. He said desalination was new in the region.

Previously listed until 2007 when it went into private ownership, Malakoff is scheduled to return to being listed on Bursa Malaysia early next year.