Malaysia: No to coal power in Sabah, explore renewable energy first, says WWF

stephanie lee The Star 20 Sep 18;

KOTA KINABALU: Please don't restart the coal power plant project in Sabah, explore renewable energy sources first to solve the state’s power supply woes, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia urges the Malaysian government.

WWF-Malaysia said in a statement that this proposal to use coal as an energy source had been strongly opposed and turned down during the previous government.

“WWF-Malaysia supports the Malaysian government’s commitment to the Paris Agreement of holding temperature increase to below 2°C and to pursue efforts to limit temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels,” it said.

This statement was issued in response to Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammad’s call to utilise coal in Sabah during his opening address at the 22nd Conference of the Electric Power Supply Industry (CEPSI) 2018.

WWF-Malaysia said the use of coal and coal-fired plants will bring with it implications that will undermine Malaysia's climate change commitment in the long run.

“As such, renewable energy and energy efficiency options as an alternative way to generate electricity, as opposed to coal should be the priority for Sabah,” the statement said.

WWF-Malaysia was part of the Green SURF (Sabah Unite to Re-Power the Future) coalition in 2009 which successfully stopped the coal power plant project in Sabah.

The topic of renewable energy in Sabah is not new, as a number of studies had been conducted on its feasibility in the state.

WWF-Malaysia said as a responsible government, protection of the environment for the well-being of the people should be top on the list.

“While electricity woes continue to plague Sabah, steps to rectify this issue should not have a negative impact on the environment,” it said.

WWF-Malaysia that the Energy, Technology, Science, Climate Change and Environment ministry has acknowledged the inefficiency in electricity generation, transmission and distribution in Sabah. However, matters concerning climate change must also be considered when it comes to finding ways to solve the problem.

Meanwhile, Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Christina Liew when asked to comment on Mahathir's coal proposal, said she does not want to say anything yet because "the matter is still in talking stage".


Sabah to look into gas and coal power generation, says CM
Norasikin Daineh New Straits Times 22 Sep 18;

KOTA KINABALU: The state government will carry out in-depth studies into energy production from coal and gas.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said Sabah had an adequate supply of both resources, compared with diesel which was more expensive and harmful to the environment.

“I was made understand that there is new technology (for power generation from coal) where it will not be detrimental to the environment,” he told a press conference at a convocation ceremony here where 679 students from eight community colleges received their certificates.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said that Malaysia had yet to fully utilise its coal reserves, especially in Sabah and Sarawak.

Shafie said the nation need skilled, creative and innovative workers who could use the latest technology.

“It is in line with current needs in the market and to develop industry sector, especially in Sabah,” he said.