Dismay over revised DEIA for coal plant in Sabah

Borneo Post Online 27 Nov 10;

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Unite to Re-Power the Future (Green SURF) is shocked and disappointed that a revised Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) report will be submitted for the proposed coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu.

Green SURF said although the Department of Environment (DOE) had rejected the study in August, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) had in its 2010 annual report stated that a “revised DEIA report will be resubmitted for review and approval” for the 300 megawatt plant.

The utility company had in a one-paragraph statement said that a DEIA study was submitted on May 26 to the DOE, followed by a sentence that it would be resubmitted, but made no mention of the rejection.

Green SURF representative Wong Tack pointed out that the project had been rejected before and relocated twice, wasting time, money and effort on debating a dirty energy source.

“Sabah should be leveraging on its position as a biodiversity hub to attract investments for green power. Instead, we are wasting time on this proposed coal plant.

“There is commitment among the international community to support forest, wildlife and marine conservation work in Sabah and here we are talking about building a coal plant between the rainforest of Tabin and the Coral Triangle.

“Building a coal plant in Sabah, and especially next to the Coral Triangle, does not just break the hearts of locals, but also the world,” he said in a statement issued by Green SURF, yesterday.

The coalition sent a reminder that early this month Sabah hosted an international conference on forests and climate change, where the issue of carbon trading was raised as an alternative to logging in earning revenue, conserving key wildlife habitats in the process.

“It doesn’t make sense that we are trying to attract investments in carbon trading if we are going to have a coal plant at an eco sensitive area. We don’t deserve international support for conservation or investments for carbon trading if this is the case,” Wong said.

Green SURF is a coalition of NGOs comprising the Sabah Environmental Protection Association (SEPA) of which Wong is president, Land Empowerment Animals People (LEAP), WWF Malaysia, Partners of Community Organisations (PACOS) and the Malaysian Nature Society (Sabah branch).

TNB’s move shocks NGOs
Muguntan Vanar The Star 27 Nov 10;

KOTA KINABALU: Environmental group Green SURF is shocked and disappointed that a revised Detailed Environmental Impact Assess­ment (DEIA) study will be resubmitted for a proposed coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu.

The group said although the Department of Environment (DOE) rejected the study in August, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) had in its 2010 annual report stated that a “revised DEIA report would be resubmitted for review and approval” for the 300MW plant.

The utility company had in a one-paragraph statement stated that a DEIA study was submitted to the DOE on May 26, followed by a sentence that it would be resubmitted, without making any mention of the rejection.

Green SURF (Sabah Unite to Re-Power the Future) spokesman Wong Tack said the project had been rejected previously and relocated twice and it was a waste of time, money and effort in debating a dirty energy source.

“Sabah should be leveraging on its position as a biodiversity hub to attract investments for green power.

“Instead, we are wasting time on this proposed coal plant.

“There is commitment among the international community to support forest, wildlife and marine conservation work in Sabah and here we are talking about building a coal plant between the rainforest of Tabin and the Coral Triangle.

“Building a coal plant in Sabah, and especially next to the Coral Triangle, does not just break the hearts of locals but also the world,” he said in a statement issued yesterday.

The coalition reminded that only earlier this month Sabah hosted an international conference on forests and climate change, where the issue of carbon trading was raised as an alternative to logging in earning revenue, conserving key wildlife habitats in the process.

“It doesn’t make sense that we are trying to attract investments in carbon trading if we are going to have a coal plant at an eco-sensitive area. We don’t deserve international support for conservation or investments for carbon trading if this is the case,” Wong said.

'Revised report addresses concerns on power plant'
New Straits Times 29 Nov 10;

KOTA KINABALU: The revised detailed environmental impact assessment (EIA) on the proposed coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu has addressed issues and concerns which led to its rejection by the Department of Environment (DOE) earlier this year.

Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd corporate services general manager Wan Maria Othman Lee, who was commenting on a statement by non-governmental organisation Green SURF (Sabah Unite to Re-Power the Future), said that they were following procedures.

"The rejection was not for a coal-fired plant.

"It rejected the study because it did not comply with some criteria.

"We have addressed those areas of concern in the new revised report."

The DOE had asked for a more detailed report on mitigation measures for the plant and an EIA for transmission route, which was not required in the original terms of reference.

Green SURF had on Friday said they were shocked and disappointed that a study could be reconsidered after its rejection.

Green SURF is a coalition of NGOs comprising the Sabah Environmental Protection Association, Land Empowerment Animals People, WWF Malaysia, Partners of Community Organisations and the Malaysian Nature Society (Sabah branch).

Chin: Coal still viable source
The Star 30 Nov 10;

PETALING JAYA: Coal is still the most viable source of electricity in the country because renewable energy technology is not matured enough.

Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin said most countries in the world were still heavily dependent on fossil fuels as their main source of energy.

“We cannot run away from such traditional fuel sources. When we talk about needing a 300MW plant, it’s a huge amount and our generation is still based on these sources, especially in Sabah,” he said on Saturday.

He was commenting on a protest by the environmental group Green SURF (Sabah Unite to Re-Power the Future) against a proposed coal-fired power plant in Lahad Datu.

Green SURF spokesman Wong Tack had said that the project, which had been rejected previously and relocated twice, was a waste of time, money and effort as it was a dirty energy source.

The plant has been proposed for a site on the shores close to the Coral Triangle, an area rich in reef and marine biodiversity.

Chin urged those opposing the move for a coal-fired power plant to reconsider be rational.

“Those protesting do not want coal anywhere at all. It is the wrong mentality to adopt. If they think a site is not suitable, that doesn’t mean we should exclude fossil fuels completely,” he said.

He said it was also wrong to object for the sake of objecting as it would only be doing the public a disservice.

“Rationalise based on these factors – there are limited alternatives available which are very costly.

“Yes, it is good to tap energy from the sun but it is expensive and the high cost will be passed back to consumers. The technology of renewable energy is still not matured enough – not for our generation,” Chin said.

It was reported that Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), which was behind the project, would be re-submitting a revised Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA) study for the plant after it was rejected by the Department of Environment (DOE).

Green SURF claimed that TNB had in its 2010 annual report stated that a “revised DEIA report would be re-submitted for review and approval” for the Lahad Datu plant.

The utility company had in a one-paragraph statement stated that a DEIA study was submitted to the DOE on May 26, followed by a sentence that it would be re-submitted, without making any mention of the rejection.