According to the Malaysia Energy Market Report 2021 by Enerdata, state-owned Petronas and Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) are leading in energy, oil and gas, and electricity generation sector. As about 40% of Malaysia’s revenue is generated from oil and gas export, it is not surprising to note that that fossil fuel is the primary source for electricity generation.
However, despite being one of the industries that generate the biggest revenue for the country, the power generation industry in Malaysia is facing the threat of a ‘skills crunch’, as the industry is running out of professional engineers to develop and deliver energy solutions.
The Power Generation Industry Seeks Engineering Graduates In...
Luckily, engineering graduates from almost all disciplines [JM3] can join the power generation industry by utilising key skills gained during their engineering degree. Employers seek engineers that have a good understanding of the engineering concepts as well as the ability to assess risks, be decisive, manage projects, and lead people. Other general skills sought include team building, communication, and planning; these will be tested at graduate assessment centres as part of the recruitment process. The graduate programmes available in the industry offer a fast track to chartered status and a wide range of work placements and development opportunities.
Down here is the list of engineering disciplines that are sought after by employers in this industry:
- Chemical
- Civil/structural
- Control
- Electrical
- Electronics
- Environmental
- Instruments
- Manufacturing
- Materials
- Mathematics
- Mechanical
- Physics
- Power systems
- Software
What It’s Like Working In Power Generation
There are a lot of challenges for professional engineers within the power generation industry. Fulfilling the commercial availability demand – any product which has undergone field testing and is generally available for all customers – as well as profitability meaning that short-term solutions on a daily basis need to be implemented quickly and safely. Other than this, long-term solutions for these challenges are also being thought about and discussed with the team.
Circumstances change quickly and engineers play a key role in managing this change. [JM5] Mobility is often required and projects can last from days to years. Typically, engineers work in small specialist teams, either in isolation or as part of a larger project group, and it is common to work on numerous projects simultaneously.
The Highlights Of A Career In Energy
- Endless opportunities to tailor your role to your personal preferences and interests.
- Exposure to all sizes and ages of plant and equipment.
- An opportunity to be mentored by experienced engineers.
- Getting a graduate engineering job in power generation
