Kuala lumpur: Electricity theft linked to illegal bitcoin mining activities has caused RM4.8 billion in losses from 2018 to June this year, said Deputy Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir. He said the situation is alarming and calls for continuous enforcement to prevent further losses.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Akmal Nasrullah highlighted that, since 2018, electricity theft involving illegal bitcoin mining has resulted in significant financial losses amounting to RM4.8 billion. He noted that, in terms of cases, there were 2,399 recorded from 2023 to 2024, with 1,800 cases already documented this year up to June alone.

He was speaking to reporters after a joint operation involving the Energy Commission, Tenaga Nasional Berhad, and other agencies, which targeted seven premises suspected of electricity theft. Akmal Nasrullah explained that the surge in cases is driven by the rising value of bitcoin, which now exceeds RM500,000 per unit, creating challenges for enforcement as more individuals are willing to take the risk of stealing electricity for mining.

Regarding the operation conducted on the day of the announcement, he stated that the seven premises were raided under Section 37(3) of the Electricity Supply Act 1990, with warrants obtained from the court. He emphasized the importance of public cooperation in stopping electricity theft and urged people to report any illegal cable connections they might observe.