Sabah's Objection to the building of Coal Power Plant

Tawau, Nov 17, 2009: Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) vice president Datuk Dr Chua Soon Bui, today Sabah people's objections against the building of the coal powered plant came from all walks of life.

"The NGOs, the environmental conservationists, SAPP and even some of the members of the BN government voiced their objections against the building of a coal powered plant in Felda Sahabat and it is no more a political issue but a concern of the people which is dear to their hearts," Chua said.

She said the people are at first very relieved when the Prime Minister, YAB Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak spoke about the coal technology as a dirty technology and is not environmental friendly during his address at the TNB 60th anniversary on 31/10/09 and that the government needs to revise its energy policy.

"But it was regretted that PM told the people of Sabah to be tolerant and compromise to the building of the coal power plant in Felda Sahabat during his recent visit to Sabah. The PM said the coal power plant is the "only" viable alternative in the short term to resolve the long term power woes in Sabah.

"In fact, the people in Sabah have been very tolerant of SESB and TNB despite serious disruptions in all the major towns especially Tawau. Power disruptions as frequent as these should be recorded in the Malaysian Guinness Book of Records.

"People of Tawau have tolerated disruptions for the past 30 years with interruptions 10 times more often than the average interruption duration index and have virtually gone numbed. The government should be thankful to the people for their high tolerance. It is not fair to ask the people to compromise when the impending pollutions factors, in air, water and sea and land affecting animals, eco-systems, undersea coral reef and marine life, GHG (green house gas) and acid rain and the health of people outweigh the development. Furthermore, the EIA hasn't even begun its feasibility and viability study.

"There are countries e.g. Australia which have been successful on the power generation from coal because of their large deposit of coal mine and reserve and their very advanced technology in treating their coal, before, during and after their power generation. China is also another country in the world using coal power generation, where, due to acute pollution factors, especially Green house emission, many of these generators (at least 20 plants) are closing down. It is sad that we are still acquiring the coal power technology from China when they are closing down their own coal power technology. What is the rational?

"Furthermore, Green Peace Indonesia during its seminar in Kota Kinabalu urged the Indonesian government to stop the coal mining (which is the second biggest producer in the world) due to pollution problems especially global warming. Sabah has to import the coal from Kalimantan for the coal power plant and what happens when the imported coal runs out? How is Lahad Datu going to produce 4 MLD (millions litres per day) with its present supply of 1MLD to service the coal power plant?

She agreed with the PM that the heavy dependence on IPP (Indepedent Power Producer), with contracts not favourable to the government should be reviewed. According to the report by General Manager of SESB (Operations) a few days ago that the main problem in Sabah is the unreliable supply by IPP as IPP engines encountered problems leading to insufficient power supply causing load shielding. Therefore the IPP should be held responsible for their failure to supply especially when they are paid double by the government (i.e. the commission and the generation of supply). The penalty should be shouldered by the IPP and it's not fair that the people especially from East coast, and Tawau has been tolerating and now to compromise with the failure of the energy policy.

"With the recent statement by Encik Abd Razak that Tawau needs 72 MW daily, IPP produces 36 MW, SESB produces around 11MW, new mobile generators to be installed at Pasir Putih produces 20 MW, and with the promise of Sime Darby new generators, Tawau should be self sufficient by the end of the year.

"he recent reply by the minister of energy, green technology and water that the Kimanis Gas power plant will produce 300MW in 2013-2014, will be channeled to East Coast and Tawau via the West-East coast grid is also a long term measures for Sabah. Furthermore, the announcement by the Advisor of Sarawak State Planning Unit, Mr. Chang Ngee Hui that Sarawak has ample power supply of 28,000MW ( 20,000 MW from Bakun) sufficient for Malaysia and even for export. So the coal power plant is not the only option for the East coast of Sabah as the ample supply can be supplied by Sarawak.

She hopes the PM would listen to the wishes of the people if he wanted the 1Malaysia concept he promoted to become reality.

SAPP is against dirty coal ...more Coal's Assault on Human Health Coal pollutants affect all major body organ systems and contribute to four of the five leading causes of mortality in the U.S.: heart disease, cancer, stroke, and chronic lower respiratory diseases. This conclusion emerges from our reassessment of the widely recognized health threats from coal. Each step of the coal lifecycle-mining, transportation, washing, combustion, and disposing of post combustion wastes-impacts human health. Coal combustion in particular contributes to diseases affecting large portions of the U.S. population, including asthma, lung cancer, heart disease, and stroke, compounding the major public health challenges of our time. It interferes with lung development, increases the risk of heart attacks, and compromises intellectual capacity. Oxidative stress and inflammation are indicated as possible mechanisms in the exacerbation and development of many of the diseases under review. 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