Sunday May 4, 2008 MYT 4:26:11 PM
Sabah sticks to its guns on coal-fired power plant
By RUBEN SARIO
KOTA KINABALU: KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Government is sticking to its decision against building a coal- fired power plant in Lahad Datu.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjum said the government could not afford the environmental risks of such a facility close to key pristine conservation areas.
“We are aware of the argument that coal-fired plants in the peninsula are sited close to a resort and Singapore. But these places do not have the Danum Valley, the Maliau Basin or the Darvel Bay,” he said here Sunday.
He said the Sabah Cabinet had heard views and advice from various experts before deciding against the 300MW coal-fired plant on April 2.
He said he found it surprising that Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) was insisting coal was the only viable option for power generation in the state’s east coast.
“We have no intention to quarrel with SESB but we hope they appreciate that our obligation is to preserve the delicate nature of our environment,” he added.
In announcing the state’s decision against the power generation plant, Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman had said the state government agreed with concerns raised by environmentalists about its impact.
The RM1.3bil power generation plant to be operated by Lahad Datu Energy Sdn Bhd was a joint venture between SESB and state-owned Yayasan Sabah.
The plant was to be sited at Yayasan’s abandoned 128.7ha seafront Pacific hardwood integrated timber complex located at the entrance to Danum Valley.
On Friday, SESB chairman Tan Sri Leo Moggie said coal was the only viable option for the urgently needed power generation plant in the state’s east coast, where electricity supply was on the verge of “crises” levels.
Moggie said there was already a 30MW shortfall in power supply in the area, where demand was 200MW while electricity generation capacity was only 170mW.
He said SESB had considered various options for power generation sources including natural gas, diesel, hydro, biomass, wind and even solar but coal was found to be the most viable choice.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjum said the government could not afford the environmental risks of such a facility close to key pristine conservation areas.
“We are aware of the argument that coal-fired plants in the peninsula are sited close to a resort and Singapore. But these places do not have the Danum Valley, the Maliau Basin or the Darvel Bay,” he said here Sunday.
He said the Sabah Cabinet had heard views and advice from various experts before deciding against the 300MW coal-fired plant on April 2.
He said he found it surprising that Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) was insisting coal was the only viable option for power generation in the state’s east coast.
“We have no intention to quarrel with SESB but we hope they appreciate that our obligation is to preserve the delicate nature of our environment,” he added.
In announcing the state’s decision against the power generation plant, Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman had said the state government agreed with concerns raised by environmentalists about its impact.
The RM1.3bil power generation plant to be operated by Lahad Datu Energy Sdn Bhd was a joint venture between SESB and state-owned Yayasan Sabah.
The plant was to be sited at Yayasan’s abandoned 128.7ha seafront Pacific hardwood integrated timber complex located at the entrance to Danum Valley.
On Friday, SESB chairman Tan Sri Leo Moggie said coal was the only viable option for the urgently needed power generation plant in the state’s east coast, where electricity supply was on the verge of “crises” levels.
Moggie said there was already a 30MW shortfall in power supply in the area, where demand was 200MW while electricity generation capacity was only 170mW.
He said SESB had considered various options for power generation sources including natural gas, diesel, hydro, biomass, wind and even solar but coal was found to be the most viable choice.
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