New Straits Times 19 Apr 10;
KOTA KINABALU: Shipping coal by barges to Lahad Datu for Sabah's proposed coal-fired power plant will put at risk the rich coral reefs and marine life in waters off the east coast.
If the project in Felda Sahabat takes off, coal for the 300 megawatt plant will likely come from neighbouring Kalimantan in Indonesia for at least 20 years, passing through the Coral Triangle zone.
Scientific reports show that although it covers only one per cent of the earth's surface, the Coral Triangle is home to over 30 per cent of the world's coral reefs and slightly more than a third of the world's coral reef fish species.
Green SURF (Sabah Unite to Re-Power the Future), a coalition of five non-governmental organisations, is questioning why the shipping of coal is not included in the terms of reference for the plant's Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment.
Coalition member Cynthia Ong said waters off Sabah's east coast are important for coastal communities and tourism.
NGOs query coal route for Sabah power plant
The Star 19 Apr 10;
KOTA KINABALU: Concerned groups are questioning why the route taken by shipments of coal for a proposed 300MW power plant in Sabah’s Lahad Datu district is not included in the terms of reference in the project’s detailed environmental impact assessment (EIA) report.
Green SURF (Sabah Unite to Re-Power the Future), a coalition of five non-governmental organisations, said the route for the shipments would pass though some of the region’s most ecologically sensitive coastal zones known as the Coral Triangle.
Coalition member Cynthia Ong said if the coal-fired plant project were to take off, tonnes of coal on barges would pass through the zones for 20 years.
“Scientific reports show that although the Coral Triangle covers only 1% of the Earth’s surface, it is home to over 30% of the world’s coral reefs and slightly more than a third of its fish species.
“An accident early this month at Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, where a ship carrying coal ran aground and spilled oil, serves as a warning,” she said, adding that the state’s east coast was important for coastal communities and tourism.
“Some of the coastal communities depend on what they catch to feed their families while others are involved in fisheries for their livelihood.
“Tourism, which is an important revenue earner for Sabah, also stands to lose if our reefs are damaged and our seas and beaches polluted,” she said in a statement, adding that divers and tourists came from all over the world to see Sabah’s coral reefs and rich marine life.
Several years ago, a barge carrying construction material damaged corals at the world-renowned Sipadan Island.
