Chin Has Failed as Minister for Green Technology: Green SURF

PRESS RELEASE

KOTA KINABALU (2nd December 2010): The protest for the 300 megawatt coal-fired power plant is based on studies that show Sabah has other options to meet its power shortage problem.

Green SURF (Sabah Unite to Re-Power the Future) said the environment, health and food security were other factors in saying no to the proposed project which has been relocated twice following repeated rejections.

Green SURF representative Wong Tack said this in response to Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Peter Chin’s statement that it was wrong for those opposing the move to “object for the sake of objecting.”

Wong said it was clear that Chin had failed to read various reports including the one prepared by world renowned energy expert, Prof Daniel Kammen which Green SURF had commissioned.

“The study shows the other options that Sabah has including biomass from oil palm waste, and geothermal energy, apart from gas which comes from our shores.

“The study listed cost effectiveness of the options in comparison to coal. It is wrong for Chin to indicate through his statement that renewable energy is only about tapping energy from the sun. We are not only talking about solar energy,” Wong said in a statement issued today.

Wong also questioned Chin for stating that renewable energy was not matured enough at present, and that those objecting should reconsider.

“The Minister (Chin) is not mature enough about renewable energy, and is irresponsible. The issue has been on the table for so long and he is talking as though it’s the first day of the campaign against the project.

“I would like to repeat my past call for him to resign. He is not qualified to be there. He is a “black” minister for supporting coal, not a green minister.

“What is the point of having the words green technology in the Ministry’s portfolio? This is just green washing to show the world Malaysia is going green,” he said.

Wong also said the push by the Ministry for a coal plant was an embarrassment and insult to the Prime Minister who had told the world in Copenhagen last year that Malaysia would cut its carbon emissions by 40 per cent in 2020 compared to 2005 levels.

Tenaga Nasional Berhad recently stated in its annual report that Lahad Datu Energy Sdn Bhd will resubmit its Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) study, but failed to report that the Department of Environment (DOE) rejected the study in August.

***

Fossil fuels will remain a long-term option: Peter Chin

Fossil fuels will remain a long-term option: Peter Chin By Joseph Masilamany PETALING JAYA (Nov 27, 2010): The exploration and continued usage of fossil fuels will remain a long-term option in the country, Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister, Datuk Seri Peter Chin told reporters today. Chin said that the country is not fully ready to embrace the use of renewable energy sources as the technology is expensive and the expertise required to switch to environmental-friendly energy sources is yet to mature during a press conference after launching Man from Borneo, an autobiography authored by La Salle (Brother) Datuk Michael Jaques . Chin said this when asked to comment on the planned re-submission of a Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) for a proposed coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu, Sabah. The planned re-submission of the DEIA by the utility company came under fire from environmental group Green SURF (Sabah Unite to Re-Power the Future). The group is shocked that although the Department of Environment had rejected the study in August, TNB had stated in its 2010 Annual Report that a revised report will be re-submitted for review and approval of the project that will generate 300MW of energy. Green SURF is concerned that the coal-fired plant to be located between the rainforests of Tabin and the Coral Triangle at an eco-sensitive area of the state. Chin, however, said that country has to rely on traditional sources of fuel as it needs 30,000MW of energy. “All countries in the world are still largely dependent on fossil fuel, and for us, deriving energy from renewable sources is still an option, unlike France which is supported by 90% nuclear energy,” Chin said. He also said if the site in Sabah is not suitable, alternate sites can be found. “We do not just give up,” he said, citing the coal-fired energy plant in Manjung, Perak. “The people of Manjung, are comfortable, although they are living close to this plant,” he added. -- theSun

Updated: 06:51PM Sat, 27 Nov 2010

Green SURF takes TNB to task over intention to resubmit DEIA

GREEN SURF PRESS RELEASE

KOTA KINABALU (26th Nov 2010): Green SURF (Sabah Unite to Re-Power the Future) is shocked and disappointed that a revised Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) study will be resubmitted for a proposed coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu.

The coalition said although the Department of Environment (DOE) rejected the study in August, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) has in its 2010 annual report stated that a “revised DEIA report will be resubmitted for review and approval” for the 300 megawatt plant.

The utility company had in one-paragraph stated that a DEIA study was submitted on May 26 to the DOE, followed by a sentence that it would be resubmitted, without making any mention of the rejection.

Green SURF representative Wong Tack, pointed out that the project has been rejected before and relocated twice, wasting time, money and effort on debating a dirty energy source.

“Sabah should be leveraging on its position as a biodiversity hub to attract investments for green power. Instead, we are wasting time on this proposed coal plant.

“There is commitment among the international community to support forest, wildlife and marine conservation work in Sabah and here we are talking about building a coal plant between the rainforest of Tabin and the Coral Triangle.

“Building a coal plant in Sabah , and especially next to the Coral Triangle, does not just break the hearts of locals, but also the world,” he said in a statement issued by Green SURF today.

The coalition sent a reminder that early this month Sabah hosted an international conference on forests and climate change, where the issue of carbon trading was raised as an alternative to logging in earning revenue, conserving key wildlife habitats in the process.

“It doesn’t make sense that we are trying to attract investments in carbon trading if we are going to have a coal plant at an eco sensitive area. We don’t deserve international support for conservation or investments for carbon trading if this is the case,” Wong said.

Green SURF is a coalition of NGOs comprising the Sabah Environmental Protection Association (SEPA) of which Wong is president, Land Empowerment Animals People (LEAP), WWF Malaysia, Partners of Community Organisations (PACOS) and the Malaysian Nature Society (Sabah branch).

***

TNB gets second bite at coal-fired plant

TNB gets second bite at coal-fired plant

Joseph Sipalan | Nov 25, 10 1:40pm

http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/149132

National power company Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) has indicated that it will continue with its plan to build the controversial 300MW coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu, Sabah.

Despite its initial detailed environment impact assessment (DEIA) report being rejected by the Department of Environment (DoE) on Aug 18, the company has the option of appealing the decision.

"A revised DEIA report will be resubmitted for review and approval," the company said in a short entry in its 2010 annual report.

The coal-fired plant, to be built on Felda Sahabat land some 100km from Lahad Datu town, is the third incarnation of the project after it was rejected twice on environmental grounds.

The first proposal in 2007 was for the facility to be built in Silam, also in Lahad Datu. Two years later, the site was changed to Seguntor, Sandakan.

On both counts, the project saw fierce opposition from the public and environmental NGOs.

Second bid allowed

State tourism, culture and environment minister Masidi Manjun had said in August that both the state and federal governments had pledged not to press ahead with the project if the DEIA is rejected.

He however pointed out that TNB could still pursue the matter as "existing policy and procedures give (the) option" to the developer to carry out another DEIA report, in a bid to secure approval from the DoE.

The RM1.7 billion plant has come under heavy criticism over the past year, with NGO coalition Green SURF going as far as to accuse TNB of producing a DEIA designed to "mislead" the public into believing the facility is eco-friendly.

The proposed project was awarded to a consortium of TNB Remaco, Eden-Nova and a Sabah state-owned company. A special purpose vehicle company, Lahad Datu Energy Sdn Bhd, was formed to implement the project.

***

This coal plant has been REJECTED 3 times. This will be the FOURTH time TNB will be pursuing the coal plant in Sabah thus they openly DISRESPECT:

The peoples of Sabah

The State Government of Sabah

The Federal Government DoE Department of Environment

Land Empowerment Animals and People (LEAP) NGO

Partners of Community Organisations (PACOS TRUST) NGO

Sabah Environmental Protection Association (SEPA) NGO

Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) NGO

WWF Malaysia (NGO)


TNB, a public service utility, is holding The Peoples of Sabah and The State Government at ransom.