ASSET OWNERSHIP – IPP
The year 1995 saw LEADER venturing into asset ownership, diversifying from our traditional cable and wire manufacturing businesses. In majority partnership with two other Malaysian companies, LEADER developed the first ever Malaysian-owned Independent Power Producer power plant on international shores. This 35-megawatt (MW) fuel oil fired diesel engine power plant undertaken by our 60% owned joint venture company namely Cambodia Utilities Pte Ltd was constructed under an exceptionally challenging political and economic climate in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and saw successful commissioning two years later in 1997. Through an 18-year Build-Operate-Transfer Power Purchase Agreement with the Cambodian government, this pioneering project’s success has been

EPC AND O&M EXPERTISE
At a time when no manufacturer was willing to undertake a turnkey construction contract in Cambodia, LEADER forged a technical alliance with ENEL SpA of Italy to engineer the power plant and to procure and build the plant on our own. On the strength of our Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) expertise, a total of eleven procurement and construction packages were secured to build and commission this seven-engine power plant. Likewise, with our Operations & Maintenance (O&M) know-how, we ran the power plant independently without the use of external O&M contractors, a fact proudly acknowledged by the engine manufacturer to its potential customers even today.

A very strong and capable team has been built up through the years, specializing in various aspects of diesel power plant technology. The workshop and laboratory available at the site have also been rated as one of the better equipped in the region. Apart from being self sufficient, it is also able to perform most if not all O&M activities for a plant of such complexity, covering the entire range of activities from cylinder honing, transformer oil regeneration to lubrication oil testing.

FORGING AHEAD
With much experience and expertise accumulated over the years, LEADER is ready to replicate our success in Cambodia to more power plants in the region and elsewhere. With in-house capability to assess, model, develop and run power plants as our forte, we are definitely gearing up for more challenging quests having made our mark as the first Malaysian developer of an overseas IPP.

The Group's venture into its second power project of a 100MW coal-fired power plant in the port of Sihanoukville in Cambodia is progressing well. LEADER is building its 100MW coal-fired power plant under our 100% owned Cambodian incorporated company, Cambodian Energy Limited.

Besides power generation, the Group is also heading into the downstream activities of concession transmission and distribution projects. The Group was awarded a 230kV power transmission project which involves the construction of the North Phnom Penh 230/115/22kV substation and the Kampong Cham 115/22kV substation and approximately 110km of double circuit 230kV overhead transmission lines linking the 2 substations. This project is undertaken by our wholly-owned Cambodian subsidiary, Cambodian Transmission Limited.

With the above, the Group’s foray into the power business comes one full circle, from its original thrust in the manufacturing of cables, leading to the power concession business involving the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, which in turn support the manufacturing business.