SESB studying alternative energy after coal-fired power plant let-down

Mungutan Vanar The Star 3 Sep 10;

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s power producer is studying the possibility of using alternative energy following the rejection of the Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment report for the controversial Lahad Datu coal-fired power plant.

Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd deputy chairman Datuk Bung Moktar Radin said several possibilities were being studied for alternative power generation to meet the state’s needs.

He said a Japanese company had proposed to regulate the power in the east coast of Sabah through a system using batteries.

“SESB is studying the system before making a decision,” he said, adding that this could help mitigate power shortage in the area.

“The state government has accepted the Department of Environment’s decision to reject the report for the proposed 300MW coal-fired power plant project in Sinakut, Lahad Datu,” he told reporters after a function on Wednesday.

The proposed coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu had come under fire from a coalition of environmental groups in the state, arguing that the location was too close to environmentally sensitive areas like the Coral Triangle and that this could affect eco-tourism.

The coalition had even brought their objections to the Parliament in Kuala Lumpur.

The proposed plant was to meet the power shortage in the area, which was frequently subjected to outages.

Bung said SESB now needed to move ahead and look at other energy sources that would provide stable electricity supply for consumers in the state.

He said SESB was also considering a system of mini-hydro dams to be set up along the Liwagu River and upper Padas river as well as looking at an area between Sipitang and Lawas for a similar hydro facility.

However, he said locations for hydro generation had to be located along fast flowing rivers.