Brunei's sunny future in solar photovoltaic industry
Monday, March 19, 2007
BRUNEI Darussalam holds golden potential to become a regional pioneer in the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry, say local businessmen.
The recent announcement of a groundbreaking venture into renewable energy production by local firms Hamidjojo Development and new company Nations Solar Technologies could herald the birth of big opportunities for national economic development, in way of high-quality employment opportunities and boosting macroeconomic activity.
Rubianto Hamidjojo, CEO of Hamidjojo Development, said that the project could potentially take Brunei off its hydrocarbon addiction by 2015. At the moment Brunei depends on oil to generate its yearly demand of around 600 megawatts of electricity, and future consumption is projected to be at 1,000 megawatts in around half a century.
He estimated that, based on the current efficiency of solar PV cells, Brunei would only need to devote around 6 sq km of land area in total for ample solar power facilities.
He warned, however, that implementing the idea would be capital-intensive.
"The sun may be free, but the cost of solar (energy) is high," said Hamidjojo.
He added that this provided the justification for his company's proposition of Brunei's own PV industry cluster a complete agglomeration of component firms and bodies needed to see the domestic production of solar power generators to cut out middleman costs. Heavy competition with microelectronics industries over limited stocks of polysilicon the sole constituent of solar PV cells sent global prices of the commodity through the roof last year.
Hamidjojo said that he has suggested building facilities in Brunei to produce polysilicon, by shipping in industrial byproducts of alloy manufacturing to extract metallic silicon, the main ingredient of polysilicon.
"If we are going to need a lot of solar power modules, why (confine ourselves to) just purchase or assembly?" he said. Locally fostering also the upstream and midstream sectors polysilicon manufacture and wafering respectively in the solar PV industry would benefit the country's socio-economy in the long run, he argued.
"Potentially the whole industry could create around 3,000 new jobs, all of them in a comfortable environment, which is what I think Bruneians look for," said Hamidjojo. "Most of the processes are automated, so there is not much menial work. They can work in clean conditions, in a nice environment from nine to five, and then go home to their families, which is what most people want."
Graduates would be preferred, he added, because the industry would not be "100 per cent routine work"; employees will have to think on their feet when monitoring quality. For example, it is likely that foreign expertise will initially be in urgent demand, but the company seeks to gradually ease locals into positions at the facility, through training and collaborations with local educational and technical institutions.
"Locals and foreigners will be treated the same way ... We shall put them together and let them compete," he said. "This industry is aimed at developing a strong middle class economy. If they earn money and spend it here, it will keep the economy moving."
The Brunei Times
The recent announcement of a groundbreaking venture into renewable energy production by local firms Hamidjojo Development and new company Nations Solar Technologies could herald the birth of big opportunities for national economic development, in way of high-quality employment opportunities and boosting macroeconomic activity.
Rubianto Hamidjojo, CEO of Hamidjojo Development, said that the project could potentially take Brunei off its hydrocarbon addiction by 2015. At the moment Brunei depends on oil to generate its yearly demand of around 600 megawatts of electricity, and future consumption is projected to be at 1,000 megawatts in around half a century.
He estimated that, based on the current efficiency of solar PV cells, Brunei would only need to devote around 6 sq km of land area in total for ample solar power facilities.
He warned, however, that implementing the idea would be capital-intensive.
"The sun may be free, but the cost of solar (energy) is high," said Hamidjojo.
He added that this provided the justification for his company's proposition of Brunei's own PV industry cluster a complete agglomeration of component firms and bodies needed to see the domestic production of solar power generators to cut out middleman costs. Heavy competition with microelectronics industries over limited stocks of polysilicon the sole constituent of solar PV cells sent global prices of the commodity through the roof last year.
Hamidjojo said that he has suggested building facilities in Brunei to produce polysilicon, by shipping in industrial byproducts of alloy manufacturing to extract metallic silicon, the main ingredient of polysilicon.
"If we are going to need a lot of solar power modules, why (confine ourselves to) just purchase or assembly?" he said. Locally fostering also the upstream and midstream sectors polysilicon manufacture and wafering respectively in the solar PV industry would benefit the country's socio-economy in the long run, he argued.
"Potentially the whole industry could create around 3,000 new jobs, all of them in a comfortable environment, which is what I think Bruneians look for," said Hamidjojo. "Most of the processes are automated, so there is not much menial work. They can work in clean conditions, in a nice environment from nine to five, and then go home to their families, which is what most people want."
Graduates would be preferred, he added, because the industry would not be "100 per cent routine work"; employees will have to think on their feet when monitoring quality. For example, it is likely that foreign expertise will initially be in urgent demand, but the company seeks to gradually ease locals into positions at the facility, through training and collaborations with local educational and technical institutions.
"Locals and foreigners will be treated the same way ... We shall put them together and let them compete," he said. "This industry is aimed at developing a strong middle class economy. If they earn money and spend it here, it will keep the economy moving."
The Brunei Times
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