39 38 THE BRANDLAUREATE • BUSINESS WORLD REVIEW JUNE - JULY ‘15 #ISSUE28 GENERATING A GENUINE PULSE OF PASSION BALANCING A TITAN TECHNOLOGY BRAND MASTERFULLY IN THE COSMIC EQUILIBRIUM WITH FORESIGHT, HARMONY AND SONG, IS M. PRAKASH CHANDRAN, THE REVOLUTIONARY AND TRENDSETTING PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF SIEMENS MALAYSIA – EXUDING ADMIRABLE INTERPERSONAL SKILLS AND RESILIENT PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT CAPABILITIES. UNDER HIS VISIONARY STEWARDSHIP, SIEMENS MALAYSIA HAS RAISED THE TEMPO AND EMBARKED UPON A NEW ERA, DOUBLING ITS BUSINESS WITHIN THE LAST FIVE YEARS ALONE. IT IS HIGH TIME TO BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH THE ELEMENTS THAT MAKE THIS EPITOMIC BRAND TICK THROUGH THE EYES OF THIS AMIABLE CAPTAIN OF ADVANCEMENT. M. Prakash Chandran by Ian Gregory Edward Masselamani COVER STORY
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GENERATING A GENUINE PULSE OF PASSION
BALANCING A TITAN TECHNOLOGY BRAND MASTERFULLY IN THE COSMIC EQUILIBRIUM WITH FORESIGHT, HARMONY AND SONG, IS M. PRAKASH CHANDRAN, THE REVOLUTIONARY
AND TRENDSETTING PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF SIEMENS MALAYSIA – EXUDING ADMIRABLE INTERPERSONAL SKILLS AND RESILIENT PERFORMANCE
MANAGEMENT CAPABILITIES. UNDER HIS VISIONARY STEWARDSHIP, SIEMENS MALAYSIA HAS RAISED THE TEMPO AND EMBARKED UPON A NEW ERA, DOUBLING ITS BUSINESS
WITHIN THE LAST FIVE YEARS ALONE. IT IS HIGH TIME TO BECOME ACQUAINTED WITH THE ELEMENTS THAT MAKE THIS EPITOMIC BRAND TICK THROUGH THE EYES OF THIS AMIABLE
CAPTAIN OF ADVANCEMENT.
M. Prakash Chandran
by Ian Gregory Edward Masselamani
COVER STORY
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Technology Titan: The Beacon of Light
The pages of history world tell of a time in the past when optimistic eyes, partly obscured by the impending darkness, would notice a spirited young
boy traversing the vicinity with his father, an Electrical Engineer heading utilities and distribution in the state of Kerala of India. Said boy would keenly observe streetlights, spotting blown-out light bulbs, logging down his findings to get the faulty units repaired around the township. The grateful denizens of his hometown would often wonder what would become of such a ‘bringer of light’ in the future.... For there was certainly an aura of destiny about him!
And years later, in a world that has seemingly been made smaller by mind-blowing technology which has exponentially evolved by leaps and bounds, at a time where the minimizing of carbon footprint has never been more important, this same ‘bearer of light’ has traversed very far in championing the cause of good on a superlative scale – able to touch and change lives. His name: Prakash Chandran.
A goal-oriented natural leader resonating dynamic disposition, vibrantly supercharged with circa three decades of priceless experience, Prakash embraced his post as the President & CEO of Siemens Malaysia in November 2009; simultaneously etching his name in history by being the first non-German to ever take
the mantle of leadership in the technological titan of a company. The very next year, he helped Siemens Malaysia breathe new life into the term ‘commitment to business integrity’ when the company was the first MNC to sign the Corporate Integrity Pledge under the Government Transformation Programme – eternally echoing the spirit of clean business.
Siemens is no newcomer to this land. As history goes, it was as far back as 1899 when the Siemens & Halske company (founded by Werner Von Siemens) first sent representatives to explore opportunities in the Straits Settlements, including Penang; and in 1908, Siemens made its first recorded sale in Malaysia. For more than a century, Siemens has thrived with the land – helping to drive its economic, social and sustainable growth; simultaneously advancing the development of its infrastructure and enhancing the lives of surrounding communities.
“I always felt that it was a big responsibility given to me and that it was a tough job; first of all getting the whole thing together, and running a business which is already successful, and getting it to the next level – so it was big challenge. And the market at that time also had a lot of uncertainties. Looking back, I think we have really travelled a lot,” Prakash relates his sentiments in hindsight, after taking over the reins of Siemens Malaysia which currently employs approximately 850
people and has grown to become one of the largest German companies in Malaysia.
As a remarkable trendsetter and a successful leader with extensive know-how and an established network in Power; Oil & Gas and Infrastructure Development, Prakash made his entry to a promising career in Energy upon acquiring his First-Class Distinction Bachelor’s Degree in Technology (Electrical Engineering) from the University of Kerala (1985).
Resonant Leadership: Direction with a Difference“And I think as a leader, what I would try to get is a scenario where each and every individual in the organization is highly motivated, is at a very high energy level and he or she is able to work with his or her highest passion – now that is what will help differentiate us from the rest – and that is what will lead us to success!”
Having savoured a thriving career in Energy, increasing Siemens Malaysia Energy sector’s market share and significantly boosting the volume generated by the Siemens ASEAN Energy sector by more than two fold within an unparalleled timeframe, Prakash, perpetually exploding with extensive gusto, is recognized for his astute mind which is honed to map out sure-win strategies and brilliant customer-centric business models; further augmented by Siemens leadership programs such as the S3 Management (together
with Babson College, USA) and the Siemens General Management Course, amongst others.
When it comes to leading with a difference, Prakash, from the very onset explains that a ‘fit-for-all-purpose’ type of model is merely a notion that does not exist in practical realities. The radical brand leader believes that success will depend on mitigating factors such as how flexible the model is and how attractively one can tune the model to the market, people and stakeholders. And the faster one can do that, and the better the understanding of each of those elements, the more effective one’s strategy will be.
“Now there’s no such thing as a steady-stay successful strategy. Strategy has to be sharpened continuously; it has to be made relevant to the market – it has to be made relevant to the people,” adds the epitome of headship calibre.
On the one hand, an illustration would be equivalent to having a team of hardcore sales people who can get information from the market on a very effective basis, but lacking a response creation in the strategy. Such a thing is not able to hold water – in fact, it does not result in anything of tangible worth. But on the other hand, if one is looking at long-term input and long-term
strategy creation, then it is certainly apt; depending on the expectations of the customer. Most importantly, we have to continue to build on trust. At the end of the day, we are talking about people of all strata and in all aspects: one set of persons who are stakeholders or customers; the other group of individuals who are within the organization – employees or human capital; and the third component which is comprised of all the people around us – the society as a whole.
“Regardless of the business or impact you are trying to create, it is about getting these three groups of people together – making them happy and bridging differences and moving on so that everyone has a feeling of success – an energized feeling. So that is what strategy is all about; it has got a lot of subroutines in it, but in the end, I guess strategies that are people-specific or congenial for the folks will succeed – and will survive,” elaborates the brand captain whose remarkable leadership significantly boosted the business volume generated by the Siemens Energy Sector in ASEAN within a short span of three years (2008-2011).
Prakash is unquestionably no stranger to this concept. His own parents used to have a lot of impact on him during his formative years, echoes of which reverberate to this very day. From a tender age, sometime after
images :1)Group Photo at the Ground Breaking Ceremony of the
Pengerang Cogeneration Plant2) Official Ground breaking of the Pengerang Cogeneration Plant
3) Puan Rahima Ibrahim, Senior Vice President and Head of Human Resources, Siemens Malaysia; receives the longservice award from Mr Prakash Chandran.
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And I think as a leader, what I would try to get is a scenario
where each and every individual in the organization
is highly motivated, is at a very high energy level and he
or she is able to work with his or her highest passion – now that is what will help
differentiate us from the rest – and that is what will lead
us to success!
image :Siemens Malaysia emerged as the winner of the ‘Life at Work: Making a Difference’ Award and was awarded with this special recognition at the recent “12th National Women’s Summit”. The ‘Life at Work Award 2014’ recognizes and celebrates employers that demonstrate drive, commitment and tenacity to champion Diversity and Inclusion in their workplace. The event
which was officiated by Yang Amat Berhormat Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyddin Yassin, presented the ‘Life at Work: Making a Difference’ award to President and CEO, Mr Prakash Chandran at theevent.
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the days he used to travel around visiting transformer factories with his father and getting street lights to function properly (which was a very interesting initiation into the energy industry) he was also involved in a special semi-automation initiative for his mother’s home-based food production facility – the first ever such partially automated system in his hometown; where he dabbled with motors and cabling. No doubt, the quintessence of his mother’s spirit of entrepreneurship remains with him – resulting in an extraordinary leader exuding a mix of a little bit of technology and a little bit of entrepreneurship; carrying the ‘DNA’ of his parents in more ways than one, and impacting the lives of many in the process.
Embracing a Revolutionary Perspective: A Man with a Heart after the PeopleAwarded the ‘Transformational Corporate Leader’ BrandLaureate ICON Leadership Award 2014 by the Asia Pacific Brands Foundation (APBF), Prakash is a prime model of a ‘people person’. An avid listener by nature, he has propelled the ‘people agenda’ in the company to the zenith of excellence – bringing Siemens Malaysia into the realm of ‘employer of choice’ – concurrently aiding in the winning of the Life at Work Award by Talent Corporation Sdn. Bhd and Excellence in Employee Engagement Award by Human Resource Magazine.
In spite of being a highly accomplished Business Group Manager extraordinaire with exemplar interpersonal skills and strapping performance management capabilities, one who heads the universal powerhouse in electronics & electrical engineering in Malaysia with a difference, operating actively in sectors such as Power & Gas, Power Generation, Energy Management, Building Technologies, Mobility, Digital Factory, Process Industries & Drives and Healthcare, Prakash does not shy away from looking at the nitty-gritty things within the Siemens family.
As a pioneer who has opened the eyes, hearts and minds of the brand to a new way of doing things – a new vantage in understanding the human capital so to speak, this Team Leader’s perspective regarding the human talent in the workforce is not only revolutionary and ahead of his time, but heartfelt as well. There is so much value and care that he personally attaches to the personnel that it creates a profound impact in the softer regions of the heart. Prakash views the workforce as a resource of tremendous worth – to the point where he would not lightly choose to let go of good, skilled or trained talent.
This leader has his own sort of unique way of dealing with staff as opposed to what is generally practised or accepted as the norm. In fact, in the past, Prakash
has been known to reassign or repurpose teammates who somehow find themselves in restrictive or hostile working conditions and environments to a different setting, sometimes even on a trial basis, thereby harnessing their true potential in the light of new conditions.
“Well, in the end, we aspire to reduce employee turnover and keep our employees motivated; giving them a sense of belonging,” explains Prakash, ever willing to embrace a revolutionary work perspective.
In order to tackle matters pertaining to this nature, Prakash personally performed a number of case studies and evaluated them, sometimes even after the fact. He feels that people always leave their bosses; not the organization. In fact, they seldom have anything against the organization; but they leave the bosses for various reasons. Then it was a question of giving them the opportunity to work with a different boss.
“Having started this ‘horizontal transfer’ approach, initially it was a little bit of a problem because everyone was blocking said efforts. And then we propagated a neutral methodology with Human Resource implementing it. We found that people who did not evaluate well in one department, division or segment started becoming the star in a new scenario,” divulges the result-driven leader with heart.
Like positive vibrations that can never be snuffed out once they come to life, this productive trend has slowly begun to reverberate constructive effects. It flows down the line to each level and the cascading effect is indeed being felt – regardless of the point of origin within
the organization, from the top or otherwise, for in the end, it extends all over. Presently, there is a free flow of this horizontal movement being implemented and practised and it has made a world of a difference to the preservation of the workforce within the organization. Initially misplaced pieces of a jigsaw puzzle are finding their way home.
When asked if this breakthrough concept should be practiced, propagated or replicated on a wider scale by any organization which may want to emulate what is being done at Siemens, Prakash comments, “Maybe not completely in this format. I guess if organizations want to be successful, as much as we say that the people have to fall in line with the leadership, the leadership also has to make a congenial working environment for the people – and this goes hand in hand.”
The brand captain believes that the more the time leaders spend with their people, the more understanding the former gets concerning the latter: “Success comes in understanding the individual in a good manner and looking at his or her fit into the organization. And the more we can do this with more people, the more successful the organization will be because the people will have a sense of belonging. So I would encourage everyone to communicate more, spend more time with the people, understand what drives them and then create an environment which is congenial.”
The Zenith Tracer: Masterful Gaze Beyond the HorizonThe very name, Siemens, transmits a ‘universal brand’ vibe. As a brand which is the epitome of proven technology, Siemens is a global powerhouse positioned along the electrification value chain leading in the
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Actually human capital is our most important
and most valuable resource...”
images :1)Siemens Malaysia received not one, but FIVE awards, at the
Human Resources Excellence Awards 2014. The Awards, organized and hosted by the Human Resources Magazine are presented to recognize organizations and individuals for achieving business
success throughout outstanding people strategies and practices.2)Customers attending the Siemens H-Academy event, a platform showcasing Siemens’ portfolio giving customers an in-depth view
of Siemens Hclass gas turbines, the SGT5-8000H
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image :Mr Prakash Chandran was presented with The BrandLaureate ICON Leadership Award 2014
by Dr KKJohan and YTM Tunku Sofiah Jewa
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fields of electrification, automation and digitalization as well as in the areas of medical imaging and in-vitro diagnostics. In essence, it is a timeless brand name that has touched multifarious facets of the human life worldwide for generations.
Closer to home, Prakash is known for his astute mind in mapping out sure-win strategies precision-designed drive this mighty brand even further. He shares his ‘strategy of the day ‘when it comes to ‘Branding for Keeps’, specifically in relation to Siemens Malaysia: “We are a technology company and we want to be known as a technology company contributing to the success of our customers – we want to make our customers successful. So that is the line of approach we are in putting into the name Siemens – and this can be extrapolated through anything.”
Indeed, instead of branding itself directly via a manufactured product which is not only tangible, but fixed, and thereby limited, Siemens takes a more ‘transcendent’ approach by being the ‘driving force’ which transports innovation beyond the boundaries of the norm – famed for its approach of providing ‘just that needed edge’ that many companies crave for in order to take their game to the next level.
Having the best technology ensures that Siemens can ‘empower’ brands to rise above the competition and be
the best in their specific area of expertise. For instance, if a company is in need of an automation system, Siemens can grant it state-of-the-art technology – the very finest tailored to the specific industry. By implementing an automation system that is par excellence, the recipient company will now display higher efficiency and possess superior effectiveness – in short, an advantage over its peers. By displaying higher productivity, with lower costs in return, such an empowered business entity then becomes much more differentiated in the market – turning out to be successful. What is more is Siemens can apply this approach cross-platform to multifarious industries and fields. In human terms, Siemens can be said to be equivalent to an “enabler” – for it is a supreme and everlasting brand that empowers others with ‘the touch of destiny’!
“So whichever field we are in, we want to be the preferred partner of choice. And how does said preference come in? It comes through the effectiveness of our technology and service,” explains Prakash, revealing the leading brand’s ‘X factor’.
In resonance of this, to be able to affect the lives of people indirectly, via the ‘unseen’ aspects such as automation for manufacturing plants, distribution of manufactured products, automation of factory buildings, the supplying of energy from utilities, and other ‘indirect’ ways; going one level behind the scenes to
Whichever field we are in, we want to be the preferred partner of choice.
And how does said preference come in?
It comes through the effectiveness of
our technology
images :1) The plant, the first metro train assembly plant to have
been built on Malaysian soil was officially certified by Siemens in April 2015.
2)Siemens employees act out their role during a play at theannual Siemens Periodic Employee Engagement Dialogue
(SPEED) event.
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time and putting in great effort at work, you can only find that balance by bringing life into work. You know, if you don’t enjoy your work, if you don’t do it with your full passion, then you are not able to differentiate well from your competitors or from others around you; so you have to bring life into work – big time!”
He adds, “And when that happens, it’s also important to have an equally strong other side – which can be something like hobby. And why? Because otherwise you’re pondering on the same subjects all the time and it makes your brain dull. So in order to replenish that energy, and I think it’s rightly so as energy continuously moves, you can get energy from something different; then you come back and regain energy from this and it builds on as a continuous flow...”
The President & CEO of Siemens Malaysia who considers himself uniquely blessed to have very good all-round support from his family, namely his wife and son, shares, “I spend a lot of time on music, which is Indian Classical Music which I sing. And I also play some instruments. So this is a pastime for me, it’s a hobby – a strong hobby.”In fact, he usually conducts an annual concert back home in India and takes his time to practice for said stage performance.
“So why do you need a concert? It’s simply because you need to look forward to something and you need to put the energy in some direction and there must be a force from behind to say, ‘OK, you have to do it properly’. So there is always that pressure to keep that balance there,” says the force to be reckoned with in his chosen field.
Prakash also has an intimate passion for weekend cooking (possibly inherited from his mother) and theatre; however the latter, which requires more preparation time, has been cut down a bit more recently due to his hectic schedule and frequent travelling.
When asked if he might consider such hobbies to be an outlet or sense of release, “Yes, it’s a sense of release – it’s something different which you do to get back your energy and your focus. You need that – you need to refresh yourself as many times as possible to be sharp where you want to be.”
As every individual is unique, hobbies too can vary from one individual to the next.
“Different people have different hobbies – a different focus on different areas. Based on the individual’s aptitude, he or she should find two or three good areas where he or she can go in and spend some time to get refreshed. Regardless of the nature of the hobby, it is just like having a shower – you go in, spend some time, then you are refreshed,” illustrates the ideal high-achiever whose employment log includes ABB (Malaysia) and Crompton Greaves Ltd. (India).
The nature of what Prakash is sharing is essentially unique because he is heading an energy brand in Malaysia and in this instance, is setting time to share his secrets on ‘universal energy’, in a sense, in his own distinctive way, beautifully shaped by the rich culture and traditions of India, and lovingly savoured in a manner that exceeds the boundaries of mere words.
make it happen, this unique nature ‘transfigures’ Siemens into more than a just physical, tangible and definable brand – it resounds the very ‘essence of branding’ on a subliminal level!
“So we are behind everywhere, we make it happen – but we are not in the forefront,” Prakash divulges concerning the true nature of the leading technological brand as a prime constituent of “a differentiated delivery.”
Universal Harmony: Perceiving Passion, SavouringSuccess“Regardless of what your hobby is, the question is whether you are able to go in-depth into that, whether you are able to derive anything from that, whether you are able to refresh yourself mentally and then get back on track. So long as you can have something which will help you to do that, I think your balance is good.”
As firm believer of how passion is vital to bring balance and a sense of fulfilment to life, not only is Prakash passionate about business, but he also has a keen interest in music and theatre inspired by the rich culture and tradition of his hometown in motherland India. Despite being at the very forefront of technology, his artistic ties, which are so deeply ingrained and firmly rooted with echoes from the past, are projected via his favourite pastimes – thereby echoing the makings of a truly distinctive leader who values the past, appreciates the present and is vary of the future.
With a bright sparkle in his eye, the topic of hobbies brings out a different side of this great man of transformation: “Well, first of all, I believe when you’re spending a lot of
Regardless of what your hobby is, the question
is whether you are able to go in-depth into that, whether you are able to
derive anything from that, whether you are able to refresh yourself mentally
and then get back on track. So long as you can have
something which will help you to do that, I think your
balance is good
images :1)Siemens Malaysia Headquarters is located
in Petaling Jaya.2)Employees clad in traditional outfits to mark
Merdeka Day Celebrations at Siemens.3) Siemens Malaysia has more than 850 employees.
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images :1)Mr Prakash Chandran highlights Siemens environmental portfolio to guests during the International Green Technology and Eco- Products Exhibition and Conference (IGEM)2014.
2)Siemens President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Prakash Chandran, sharing a light moment with the management team during an employee event.
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Pathfinder Legacy: Eternal Imprint – Timeless ResonanceSince 1908, Siemens has actively participated in the nation’s socioeconomic growth dynamically. Supported by its global network of innovation today, it is one of the leading technology providers with comprehensive products and solutions for various markets in the Malaysian economy such as in Power & Gas, Power Generation Services, Energy Management, Building Technologies, Mobility, Digital Factory, Process Industries & Drives and Healthcare. With such a wealth of experience, Siemens exudes proven technology. In its endeavours, the brand gives as much input as necessary and provides the best in-class technology to ensure that every plan becomes a reality.
“There is a lot of technology available in the market which is not proven. Without a proven technology, such providers might not be able to see it through. And when technology is not proven, there might be a lot of risks that could happen along the way,” says a leader who has brought significant change during his tenure. “When it is already a proven technology, these issues are more or less settled out. So that is the differentiation we bring into the country,” he adds.
It cannot be denied that such proven technology can indeed be seen in the Siemens brand, comprised of nine divisions, executing mega-projects, including rail products and solutions, such as spearheading the Express Rail Link (ERL) project and the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT), as the supplier of the rolling stock as well as the supplier of depot equipment and maintenance, together with consortium partners; building automation systems being deployed and installed in landmark buildings such as the KLCC Twin
Towers to help provide maximum comfort, safety & security for all of its occupants and visitors; in energy-related turnkey construction, the Prai Combined Cycle Power Plant (producing sufficient energy to supply to around 2.2 million people), the Pengerang Co-generation Plant (which will be able to produce approximately 1220 megawatts of power) and at the stages of commissioning for the Connaught Bridge (dry power plant), its integrated offering of automation technology, industrial control and drive technology as well as industrial software, set to help equip enterprises, manufacturing and production facilities in Malaysia with what they need over their entire value chain; healthcare by providing hospitals and clinics with the latest in diagnostic technology, supporting healthcare professionals in their day-to-day role by providing medical technologies that help deliver a better quality of healthcare and enable ever-improving degrees of individual care through advanced imaging, diagnostics and therapeutic solutions – among numerous other across-the-board involvements.
Prakash expresses how closely Siemens has become to everyday people in Malaysia as a brand: “Healthcare has a very high market share of more than 30 per cent and I think that is the one area where we are directly touching the lives of people with our CT, MRI and the like. And that is now a company of its own which is Siemens Healthcare SB – which is fully owned by Siemens Malaysia.”
Apart from large projects, the brand puts a lot of effort into Research & Development (R&D). Prakash reveals that almost five per cent of company revenue is channelled back into R&D. Breakthrough technology is, after all, the domain of the future; and Siemens would not be a leader in technology today if it was not forward looking
enough in the past to place emphasis on developing new innovation. In addition to this creative impetus, the brand also applies high management standards and strategically focuses its activities in areas where its competencies, resources and employee volunteering can make a meaningful difference. Such areas include ‘Education & Science’, ‘Social’, ‘Environment’ and ‘Arts & Culture’.
“We have nine divisions, and at the end, all these businesses are doing well. So on the whole, the most important aspect which I can say regarding this business is that each and every individual business has a reasonable market share and a good market presence in Malaysia; and this is important for us because some businesses can rise and some businesses can take a dive; but the bread-and-butter business has to be stable and it has to have all the legs in place – and that is the situation now and we are quite happy,” remarks the brand leader with a sense of achievement.
Prakash concludes with his life motto and aspiration for the future: “You know, there’s an old saying, ‘Simplicity is the highest level of sophistication’. And what I would leave behind here one day is first of all, a family; secondly, a well-knit and successful, well-to-do family; and thirdly, one with not much of complications – simple, straightforward communication; and a name someday for being one who believed in this – and it worked!”
His meaningful words of wisdom echo vibrantly like an eternal imprint destined to radiate perpetual resonance over the sands of time.
Further information is available at: www.siemens.com
Green Gusto: The Electromagnetic Allure of EnergyAs an ardent believer of sustainability and ‘green’ initiatives, Prakash has championed said cause admirably. A shining example of this is the Siemens Environmental Portfolio in ASEAN and Malaysia. In its ongoing efforts, the brand’s approach is two-fold: increasing energy efficiency whilst reducing pollution. Its involvement in power plant facilities will indeed be a game changer for energy in Malaysia and usher in a new age environmentally conscious society. Highly efficient combined cycle power plants and related services are part of the Siemens Environmental Portfolio. Factually, around 43 per cent of the brand’s total revenue stems from green products and solutions – making the company one of the world’s largest providers of environmental technologies. This is resultant of Siemens Energy Sector being the world’s leading supplier of a broad spectrum of products, services and solutions for power generation in fossil power plants & using renewable sources, power transmission in grids and for the sector.
“Malaysia ranks as one of the highest energy consumers in ASEAN. As energy consumption continues to increase, efficient power generation will be a vital component of reliable, eco-friendly energy system and further investment in new power plants is expected. When operating efficiency is boosted with proven technology, power plants will make significant impact in reducing carbon dioxide emissions,” says Prakash, in line with the brand’s move of helping Malaysia meet its 40 per cent carbon abatement target by 2020 with proven technology.
The brand champion reflects on what might be the best that can be done. He believes that in everything which Siemens does, it tries to bring the best technology, the best availability and the best efficiency; thus ensuring that carbon footprints are continuously reduced. Prakash trusts that it is the best that the technological titan can do for the next generation and feels the brand is on track when it comes to this in Malaysia; albeit it being a time-consuming journey – but the nation will get there eventually, considering how Malaysia is the second largest oil & gas producer in Southeast Asia and the second largest exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) globally, with large proven natural gas reserves.
He summarizes his overall impression of the ‘green’ drive in Malaysia: “I think in this region all over, every country has moved into and focused more on this. Every approach starts with the first step and I think the first steps have come out quite well. It’s not a short journey – it’s a long journey, and there has to be a sustained focus on this.”
Echoing the genuineness of his statement, Siemens’ innovative and efficient products are continually enabling power and energy operators in Malaysia to succeed in increasingly complex technological and economic environments – particularly in areas of power generation and power transmission as well as oil and gas production. For example, by the year 2017, Malaysia will be home to six units of the world’s largest and most efficient gas turbines, the SGT5-8000H gas turbines – being the first country to have installed the turbines in the ASEAN region.
“With the six gas turbines that will be installed at the Prai Combined Cycle Power Plant as well as the Pengerang Co-generation Plant, we are already looking at a potential reduction of more than 250,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually – that is equivalent to the annual carbon emissions of 60,000 medium-sized cars clocking up a distance of 20,000 km annually. I am confident that, this amount of carbon dioxide reduction from our gas turbines, together with reductions from Siemens’ other products that are part of the Siemens Environmental Portfolio; will substantially contribute and will bring Malaysia closer to the 2020 carbon abatement target.”
Concerning the level of implementation in the nation, which Prakash feels has been very supportive thus far: “The variables are different in different countries. Here, we have a lot of fossil fuels available – oil and natural gas, which, no doubt, are all depleting – like everywhere else. But of course if you have the resources, the focus will be on existing resources before getting into a different kind of approach. Now at the same time, for example, another country might have big opportunity with wind. Here, we do not have such opportunity; for every scenario is different. Given the Malaysian context, I think it is at the optimum approach – it is not on an accelerated mode or a decelerated mode; it is moving at its own pace, in the right direction, which I think is good.”
Truly, Siemens has made substantial contribution as a leading-edge technology provider for Malaysia and is keen to play a key role in ensuring sustainable growth with environmental-friendly technology in order for the nation to become a developed nation by the year 2020.
From our perspective, we have, with our environmentally friendly products,
contributed massively to the reduction of carbon footprint
image :2 units of the Siemens SGT5-8000H gas turbines
will be installed at the Prai Combined Cycle Power Plant and 4 units will be installed at the PETRONAS
