Cooperation for Malaysia - Support the smooth enforcement of the Energy Conservation Act “Pilot Project” successfully completed - ECCJ / Asia Energy Efficiency and Conservation Collaboration Center

13 Mar. 2026 In AEEC News

Cooperation for Malaysia – Support the smooth enforcement of the Energy Conservation Act “Pilot Project” successfully completed

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The Energy Conservation Center, Japan (ECCJ), entrusted by the ANRE (Agency for Natural Resources and Energy), has been implementing the bilateral energy conservation capacity building project with the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation of Malaysia (METWT). In Malaysia, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act was enacted by METWT in 2024 (hereinafter referred to “EECA 2024”) to contribute to the comprehensive management and efficiency of thermal and electrical energy.

The EECA 2024 replaces the “Regulation on Efficient Management of Electrical Energy” enforced in 2008. It aims to further enhance energy savings through the comprehensive management and efficiency of all energy forms, including thermal energy.
Japan previously supported Malaysia in formulating a comprehensive energy conservation law in 2010-2011, but the process was suspended due to the circumstances of the Malaysian side. The EECA 2024 represents the culmination of those efforts. Based on this background, both countries agreed that Japan would support the smooth enforcement of this Act, particularly the energy management regulations under EECA 2024. This energy conservation cooperation project implemented by ECCJ consists of the following two programs:

(Program – 1)
Training on thermal energy management and efficiency
(Program – 2)
Pilot Project : Development and dissemination of the models of “Energy Conservation Promotion System cored with Energy Management System”

Program – 1 aimed at establishing the program to qualify and certificate the energy managers and energy auditors newly stipulated under EECA 2024. ECCJ conducted the six training courses. This program was completed in FY 2024.
Program 2 was implemented from July 2023, after the COVID-19 pandemic subsided, with the cooperation of three Malaysian companies (in the food processing, oleochemical, and cement industries) over a period of 20 to 23 months at each company. This fiscal year, METWT transitioned into the activities to disseminate the outcomes established by the three companies, with which the Pilot Project was completed. (The total duration was 32 months.)
As a result, the energy conservation cooperation project with Malaysia was successfully completed, achieving the outcomes listed below. This cooperation also contributed to the EECA 2024 being fully and smoothly enforced after its 18-month grace period following enactment, hence achieving its project objectives. METWT expressed its deep gratitude for this cooperation by ANRE-ECCJ.

【Achievements and Outcomes】
１． Program – 1 Outcomes
To enable METWT to certify New Energy Managers (Type 2 Energy Managers) and Energy Auditors as stipulated by the EECA 2024, The training institutions (training providers) accredited by METWT have developed new training programs reflecting the content of the trainings conducted by ECCJ. These institutions are implementing training to enhance the qualifications of candidates and grant them certification.

2. Program – 2 Outcomes
Although some of the three companies were severely affected by the economic downturn, the project’s initiatives achieved improvements in energy consumption intensity ranging from 5% to 10%. Analysis of the results confirmed that the implemented improvement measures significantly mitigated the adverse effects of the downturn (*1) for the affected companies.
(*1) 13% – 16% of reduction in production and a large fluctuation of products’ market demand
The above facts prove that the “Energy Conservation Promotion System” established by each company through this project functioned effectively.
(Actual results are shown in Reference – 1.)
The three companies also utilized ECCJ tools to establish an Energy Management System (EnMS) based on ISO 50001 and implemented systematic improvements, achieving the following outcomes.
(1) EnMS based on ISO 50001 and this functioning system (This is the core system of the “Energy Conservation Promotion System”)
(2) Improvement measures realized through systematic implementation under (1) EnMS above and selected best energy conservation cases from these
(3) The “Report” as per the ECCJ’s form: Summarizing detailed information and data on the outcomes and the actual implementation results.
The outcomes were organized as the a model of the “Energy Conservation Promotion System cored with EnMS based on ISO 50001,” comprising the elements (1) and (2) above, and disseminated at the seminar described later.
These outcomes provide valuable and visualized information for the other companies to correctly understand the requirements of the EECA 2024 and concretely promote energy conservation. ECCJ collaborated with the three companies to prepare materials suitable for dissemination of the outcomes.

3. Dissemination and promotion of Pilot Project outcomes
It was confirmed that METWT would be responsible for the dissemination of the above outcomes using the materials for dissemnination. Dissemination began in February of this year, which made the completion of “Pilot Project”. Subsequently, METWT formulated a plan to sustainably promote many companies to establish similar systems and disseminate the best practices.

Dissemination Kickoff Seminar (held in Johor Bahru on February 11, 2026)
The seminar introducing the pilot project outcomes was held alongside the seminar on the requirements of the EECA 2024 and the application of the “Energy Audit Conditional Grant (EAGC)” (one of the energy conservation promotion support measures). 47 participants and speakers attended the seminar, including about 30 participants from 21 companies in the region. Presentations were given on the overall project results and the outcomes summarized by ECCJ and on the individual outcomes and achievements established by the 3 cooperating companies.
At the same time, the seminar provided the participants from companies in the region with a good opportunity to exchange with the presenters from METWT, the 3 cooperating companies and ECCJ.
A questionnaire survey confirmed that the seminar provided participants with useful information for promoting energy conservation.

Plan for Disseminating and Promoting the Pilot Project Results
METWT’s plan for implementing dissemination activities was discussed, incorporating recommendations from ECCJ. As a result, the following future actions by METWT were confirmed.
（1）A seminar similar to the Dissemination Kickoff Seminar will be held in the northern region of the country around June, inviting approximately 100 participants.
（2） The existing award program, the “National Energy Award – Energy Management Category,” will be utilized to promote the project outcomes and disseminate best practices. The three cooperating companies will also be encouraged to apply for the 2026 award.

The basic implementation method of the pilot project is shown in Reference – 2.

●Photo of the Dissemination Kickoff Seminar (Activity to Complete Pilot Project)