NGOs Unite for Greener Sabah

Five prominent Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have united to form a coalition named ‘Sabah Unite to Re-Power the Future’ or Green SURF, to oppose dirty energy such as coal-fired power plants.

The five NGOs are the Land Empowerment Animals and People (LEAP), Partners of Community Organisations (PACOS TRUST), Sabah Environmental Protection Association (SEPA), the Malaysian Nature Society Sabah Branch and the Sabah office of WWF-Malaysia.

The coalition aims to present positive solutions to the current energy situation in Sabah. The coalition calls on Malaysians to voice objections against the building of a coal fired plant in Sabah by the middle of December 2009.

Fast Facts on Sabah’s Power Issues

How much power does Sabah have?

• Officially have about 785 Mega Watts (MW) on the books, however in reality the dependable capacity is about 712 MW while the maximum demand is about 675 MW.

If that is the case, why are there power failures?

• Because the reality of the situation is that electricity supply is inefficient due to age and lack of maintenance.
• It is estimated that they are running at 40% capacity at present!

Does Sabah need a coal-fired power plant?

• According to the coalition, absolutely not.
• Sabah has alternative energy solutions which were identified in the Sabah Energy Masterplan, this plan identifies hydro projects as a source of electricity generation and does not focus on coal at all.
• For hydro, Liwagu and Upper Padas were identified and feasibility studies and an Environmental Impact Assessments for the Upper Padas is being carried out, these projects just need to be fast tracked.
• Liwagu and Upper Padas would both generate 190 MW each.
• Also note that unlike the proposed Kaiduan hydro scheme which would drown out seven villages both Liwagu and Upper Padas would not and have been in the planning far longer than the coal fired power plant.
• Sabah has it’s own natural gas and if the Kimanis Natural Gas plant is fast-tracked we will have capacity of 300 MW.  Remember, even the coal-fire power plant will take a minimum of three years to be built, so why not Kimanis Natural Gas or Liwagu or Upper Padas?
• Hydro will come under the purview of the State whereas coal-fired power plant is under the purview at the Federal level.
• Another IPP called Rainhill in Sepanggar is scheduled to generate 190 MW (60 MW by April 2010).
• So the question should be, if we have this “cleaner” alternatives and we still have to wait for three years for the coal-fired power plants how does this solve our electricity issues? Which option could people, wildlife and nature of Sabah live with?

Why can’t Sabah use renewable energy as a power source? Sabah is said to be the number one producer of Malaysian palm oil?

• The first and major hurdle to any sort of renewable energy is the fact that the Malaysian Government has a policy in place that limits the amount of power that can be produced by using renewable energy!
• The Malaysian electricity legislation does not allow you to completely “go off the grid”.
• The same legislation limits the production of electricity via renewable sources to only 10 MW and their sell back price to the grid is lower than other power sources.
• A coal-fired power plant can produce 300 MW but a cleaner (and even cheaper as the source is located here unlike coal) may only produce 10 MW!
• Following the Prime Minister’s 2010 Budget speech which focused on green technologies, the Federal Government needs to immediately review these types of outdated policies that are not good for the environment and make absolutely no sense, especially in Sabah.

To sign the petition, click here.

Tweet This Post