Malaysia plans to have 30 percent of its power generated hydroelectrically in the next 10 years and reduce dependence on gas power, a senior official said Friday.

The government wishes to increase the ratio of hydroelectricity in the power generation from the current 5.5 percent to 30 percent in the next decade, Energy, Water and Communications Minister Lim Keng Yaik said.

Under the current energy mix, besides hydroelectric power, gas- powered electricity constitutes 70.2 percent while coal power accounts for 21.8 percent. The remaining is generated by oil and other sources.

Lim urged power producers to cast their eyes on hydroelectricity, as hydroelectric power is environmentally friendly, renewable and cheap. In addition, Malaysia has rich waterpower resources.

As for the gas-generated power, the government plans to reduce its ratio to 45 percent by that time, Lim told reporters in the administrative center of Putrajaya.

Lim added his ministry has recently rejected applications for the setting up of two gas-powered plants.

On the possibility of producing electricity through nuclear power, the minister said the government would shelve the option for the time being.

Source: Xinhua