Petronas must be committed to giving Sabah the much needed gas

KOTA KINABALU, 14 May 2010: The Federal Government through Petronas ought to ensure adequate supply of natural gas from the oil and gas terminal at Kimanis to generate energy, which is crucial to development in Sabah, said Luyang Assemblywoman Melanie Chie.

She asserted that adequate supply of natural gas is crucial to ensure that proposed development in the state can take off, not to mention development of the oil and gas downstream industries which can generate greater employment opportunities and spur economic development.

Melanie who is also Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Wanita Chief, was responding to Plantation Industries and Commodity Minister Tan Sri Bernard Dompok's recent statement to support the State Governmment's move to develop Kimanis and Sipitang into oil and gas towns.

Dompok said that the Federal Cabinet had instructed Petronas to give priority to Sabah if the State required the resources.

While noting that there was a guarantee that no gas will be transported to Sarawak through the Kimanis-Bintulu pipeline if there is a need (for gas) here, Dompok said therefore the State Government have to look at the infrastructure for the utilisation of gas.

"Petronas wants to go ahead with it so they must have their reasons. But when Sabah needs the gas, they must not export. I think that is the undertaking," he said.

He also revealed that the state government had already received a written commitment from the national oil company assuring compliance.

Nonetheless, Melanie was doubtful of Petronas's assurance.

"Is Petronas truly committed to giving the natural gas we require for our develoment? Is the Federal Government commited to its promise to give priority to Sabah for our oil and natural gas resources requirement?" she asked.

Melanie added that she feared that KKIP Sdn Bhd, a State GLC, would fail if the Sabah Government in upholding Sabah interest is unable to assist them to solve problems related to adequate supply of natural gas for energy intensive industries.

She pointed out that State Minister of Industrial Development Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah had announced that KKIP Sdn Bhd needed 42 million cubic feet of natural gas daily and electricity supply of 354 Megawatts for a proposed solar glass manufacturer.

KKIP Sdn Bhd has proposed to sign commitment to investor, the Sun Bear Polar Sdn Bhd which wanted to build RM5.3 billion plant to produce solar glass panels with silica sand from northern Sabah.

"The investment would fail if the State Government is unable to help to ensure adequate natural gas supply by Petronas. There must be a firm commitment by Petronas. If the State Government is not able to secure this supply commitment from Petronas , other potential invertors either local or foreign would also not come to Sabah," she said.

She continued that if the proposed signing with Sun Bear Polar Sdn Bhd fail, Sabah stands to lose the RM5.3 billion investment which promised to create 1,082 employment opportunity; development of supporting industries and the development of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), income from land revenue, amongst others.

She also urged the Government to update the people on the status of the Sun Bear investment as to whether it is going ahead or not, and whether adequate natural gas is made available for Sabah industrial development including Sun Bear.

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. In addition, the report addresses another, less widely recognized health threat from coal: the contribution of coal combustion to global warming, and the current and predicted health effects of global warming...more Aug 26, 2010 - Are nepotism and corruption behind the Sabah coal plant? Aug 21, 2010 - Build more gas power plants as soon as possible Aug 19, 2010 - Coal plant DEIA rejected Aug 18, 2010 - SAPP vows to scrap controversial dams and coal plant proposals Jul 29, 2010 - EIA report on controversial coal plant flawed Jul 27, 2010 - Sabah coal-fired plant 'far from eco-friendly' Jul 23, 2010 - British environmentalist leads fight against Sabah coal plant Jul 17, 2010 - Hundreds gather at site for proposed coal-plant Jul 17, 2010 - MP calls govt's bluff over coal power Jul 16, 2010 - Chua urges protection of biodiversity in Sabah Jul 06, 2010 - Green Surf wants coal plant scrapped Jun 15, 2010 - Parliament to debate Sabah's coal power May 18, 2010 - Sabah says No to coal! Apr 21, 2010 - Sabah, a dumping ground for dirty coal Dec 15, 2009 - Chua: Q&A on power plants at parliament Dec 15, 2009 - Commitment an irony, claims SAPP Dec 01, 2009 - Chua: Terms of reference on EIA Nov 29, 2009 - Groups express concern over report on coal-fired plant Nov, 27, 2009 - How important is Bakun power to Peninsular Malaysia? Nov 25, 2009 - BN flip flops again! Nov 18, 2009 - Melanie engages in verbal spat over coal plant Nov 17, 2009 - Sabah's Objection to the building of Coal Power Plant Nov 16, 2009 - Sabah assembly: Coal-fired plant against green policy Nov 15, 2009 - SAPP: Coal plant idea not supported by public Nov 13, 2009 - China eyes closing coal-fired power plants in capital Nov 13, 2009 - Dirty Coal Power Nov 9, 2009 - SAPP: Coal power plant at Tungku tainted with power abuse Nov 9, 2009 - China eyes closing coal-fired power plants in capital Oct 27, 2009 - Power from West-East Coast Grid only by end 2013 Oct 21, 2009 - Ulterior motive on the coal fired power plant Oct 19, 2009 - Power entity should be under state gov't Sep 13, 2009 - Chua: Extend National Energy Commission to Sabah Aug 19, 2009 - People's cries falling on deaf ears Aug 16, 2009 - Stop holding the people to ransom over power supply problem Aug 12, 2009 - Enough! Stop Power Disruptions in Tawau Jul 30, 2009 - National Green Technology Policy the way forward for renewable energy Jun 24, 2009 - Birth defects in China's Shanxi show human price of coal Jun 23, 2009 - SAPP to Raymond: Don't insult Sandakan folks Jun 17, 2009 - WWF opposes coal plant wherever sited in Sabah May 30, 2009 - SAPP Yes to gas-powered but No to coal-fired plant May 26, 2009 - Sabah discriminated by BN government May 18, 2009 - Sapp says no to coal-fired plant again Apr 30, 2009 - Supply Sarawak power to Sabah and not Indonesia or Brunei Feb 19, 2009 - SAPP welcomes assurance, calls for gas-powered plant for Sandakan Feb 18, 2009 - SAPP to continue its campaign against coal plant Feb 17, 2009 - Tennessee Coal spill and destruction Feb 16, 2009 - SAPP's objection of coal-fired plants in Sabah Feb 15, 2009 - Yong shows up at anti-coal protest Dec 24, 2008 - Alternative Power Plants Dec 24, 2008 - Economic reasons over Health and Environmental concerns Nov 13, 2008 - Scrap coal-fired plant in Sekong Oct 07, 2008 - Don't force the coal plant on Sandakan Nov 06, 2000 - Tenaga eyeing renewable energy - Blowing Hot Air or Talking Bull? State's sovereign rights on oil .... Jul 01, 2010: Questions on Blocks L & M not fully answered Jun 25, 2010: Murky oil blocks deal could cost Sabah billions of ringgit Jun 11, 2010: Is Maritime District 14 a Malaysian maritime territory? Jun 07, 2010: Edward: People deserve to know what happened May 12, 2010: Dullie to Mojigoh: Who are you helping? May 12, 2010: Be honest about oil blocks, Kitingan tells govt May 10, 2010: SAPP: The fact speaks for itself May 05, 2010: SAPP news in FreeMalaysiaToday May 05, 2010: Malaysians only found out via NYSE: Yong May 04, 2010: Sabah rights and interests have been sacrificed May 04, 2010: Oil blocks deal: Huge financial loss to Sabah May 03, 2010: SAPP: Ceding of blocks L and M to Brunei unconstitutional May 02, 2010: Najib: M'sia, Brunei border talks will lead to a win-win solution Apr 30, 2010: Statement by Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on two oil exploration fields Apr 30, 2010: Abdullah says cabinet approved boundary pact with Brunei Apr 30, 2010: Pak Lah gave 'RM320b oil rich areas' to Brunei Apr 29, 2010: Malaysia's generosity by Dr Mahathir Nov 23, 2008: Oil royalty: SAPP not giving up Nov 20, 2008: Oil Royalty Warrants Review Stop the Coal-fired Power Plant in Sandakan.... Destruction of famous tourist attraction sites Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre Kinabatangan Ramsar Site, Sukau Resorts Island Resorts off Sandakan, Selingan Turtle Island...