Business

Friday November 6, 2009

Cyberview to invest RM58m in district cooling

By EUGENE MAHALINGAM


CYBERJAYA: Cyberview Sdn Bhd, the landowner of Cyberjaya, will invest RM58mil over the next two years in the expansion of a district cooling system here to lower the cost of doing business and better preserve the environment.

Managing director Datuk Redza Rafiq said the initiative would involve buildings currently still under construction in Cyberjaya.

Pendinginan Megajana Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cyberview, would be carrying out the works.

“District cooling can reduce electricity usage by more than 65% compared with traditional air conditioning systems,” Redza said at the annual Cyberview media briefing yesterday.

He said it was not possible to disclose the value of the projects still being developed in Cyberjaya, adding that over 50% of the existing buildings in Cyberjaya were “already cooled”.

He said the move was in line with the Prime Minister’s Budget 2010 announcement to develop Putrajaya and Cyberjaya as pioneer townships in green technology.

Redza also said Cyberview had submitted a strategic plan as well as a green roadmap to the Government for the implementation of green initiatives in Cyberjaya.

The roadmap will outline green initiatives focusing on land, energy, water, waste and recycling and air.

On another note, Redza said the global economic downturn had made Cyberjaya more attractive for companies seeking a viable base of operations. “In a downturn, most companies re-look at ways to operate efficiently and Cyberjaya offers good value propositions. In fact, the economic crisis has benefited Cyberjaya.”

According to him, there were a total 512 companies in Cyberjaya comprising small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), multinationals and local businesses.

“This year, we are targeting to attract 47 companies. At the last count, we had secured 38,” Redza said, adding that he expected a spike in SME businesses once construction of a third SME building was completed.

The building is expected to be completed in the first half of 2010 and will have a gross floor size of 100,000 sq ft. Redza said it could accommodate up to 100 SMEs.

He said the two existing SME buildings currently accommodated 214 firms.

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