Saturday May 10, 2008
Opt for natural gas facility, green groups urge Sabah government
KOTA KINABALU: Environmental groups here are urging the Sabah Government to completely reject plans for coal-fired power plants.
Noting that the state had plenty of gas reserves, Sabah Environmental Protection Association (Sepa) chairman Wong Tact said a natural gas facility should be the obvious choice to address the 30mW shortfall in supply in the east coast as stated by Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB).
“A coal-fired plant will take two years to build whereas a gas turbine facility can be up and running in about a year,” he said.
“We have the gas, the technology and the experience. Isn’t that enough reason for us to have it in the east coast,” he added.
Wong, who pointed out that SESB was already using gas turbines in Sabah’s west coast, said the state should resist any pressure to allow the proposed coal-fired plant in Lahad Datu to be relocated.
“The people of Lahad Datu have said no and I’m sure those in Sandakan, Tawau, Kunak, Semporna or elsewhere will say no as well. The government must listen,” he added.
On Thursday, Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman had said the state was maintaining its decision against building a 330mW coal-fired plant at Silam in Lahad Datu.
He said the decision was made to ensure the pristine environment of nearby conservation areas such as the Danum Valley, Maliau Basin and Darvel Bay were preserved.
Musa, however, said the state would be willing to consider if Tenaga Nasional Bhd, through its local subsidiary SESB, wanted to relocate the proposed RM1.3bil plant to Sandakan or Tawau.
The state government, he added, would only decide on the matter after getting feedback from relevant authorities such as the Environment, Forestry and Land and Survey departments.
News Poll
- MD seeks RM1mil from ex-fiancee
- Never too old to say ‘I do’
- Najib a big hit on Facebook
- Teen stitched - and stitched again - after childbirth
- Lift suspension or I’ll quit, says Huan
- Former national cyclist sentenced to death for drug trafficking
- Phang among trio charged with RM380mil fraud in PKFZ scandal case
- Khairy rubbishes deputy minister's offer reports
- Catch Geminid meteor shower on Sunday night
- Raising dowry will make many Muslim women old maids: Nik Aziz
- Never too old to say ‘I do’
- Catch Geminid meteor shower on Sunday night
- Swiftlet industry in Sarawak ruffles feathers
- Teen stitched - and stitched again - after childbirth
- MD seeks RM1mil from ex-fiancee
- Court documents must be in English in Sabah and Sarawak
- Panasonic set to expand further
- How racist are we all really?
- Crying foul over fuel rule
- Najib a big hit on Facebook
RSS
