Shell doubles up on green spending and vows to halve carbon footprint

Anglo-Dutch giant to spend $2bn on wind power, biofuels and electric cars as it bows to shareholder pressure by setting new company climate change target
Adam Vaughan The Guardian 28 Nov 17;

Shell has doubled its spending on clean power and bowed to shareholder pressure by promising to halve the carbon footprint of the energy it sells by 2050, as the oil giant said it was stepping up its ambitions on green energy.

The Anglo Dutch firm is increasing capital expenditure for its new energies division, to $1bn-$2bn (£750m to £1.5bn) a year for 2018-2020, up from a previous plan of up to $1bn a year by 2020.

But the spending on wind power, biofuels and electric car infrastructure will still account for a small fraction of the giant’s planned $25-30bn annual investment. Shell has $5bn-$6bn a year pegged for deepwater drilling and $2-3bn a year allocated for shale oil and gas.

The company’s new climate change target aims to cut the net carbon footprint of its products in half by 2050, and around one-fifth by 2035.

“It is making sure that the products within society have an overall lower carbon footprint. That is the longterm way of making sure our business remains a relevant business in the face of the energy transition,” said Ben van Beurden, Shell’s chief executive.

The carbon target is similar to one put forward by shareholder activists at the company’s AGM earlier this year, which the board opposed and defeated.

Shell said the goal addressed the spirit of the shareholders’ proposal but the company’s chosen methodology meant it did not have “negative side-effects” of the resolution. “We could see a kernel of truth and relevance in there,” said Van Beurden.

The Dutch activist shareholder group behind the proposal, Follow This, welcomed the new target.

“We applaud Shell’s ambitious decision to take leadership in achieving the goals of the Paris climate agreement to limit global warming to well below 2C,” said the group’s founder, Mark van Baal.

Shell said it would grow its new energies division through its existing businesses and by acquiring companies, as it has done recently by buying electric car charging firms Ionity and New Motion.

Van Beurden defended the level of spending on green energy. “Is the investment we are going to put in new energies enough? Let’s see, we have to start somewhere,” he said.

Wind and biofuels would have a key role, he said. “We will systematically improve, we will grow this business up to be a very significant part of the future of the company, otherwise you can’t even get to a 20% reduction of a carbon footprint.

“But we have to do it in a disciplined way. If we destroy value in this process, no one is going to be served.”

However, the company said hydrocarbons would still be at the heart of its business and the global energy landscape over the next two decades.

“Oil and gas will remain an important part of the energy system [up to 2030], no credible forecast says otherwise,” said Van Beurden.

On the idea that some of its assets would be stranded by governments taking action on carbon emissions as part of the Paris climate deal, he said: “I think we will have very limited, if any, stranded assets [in the 2020s].”

The chief executive said that the firm sees underlying reasons that the oil price could go even higher than where it stands now, at just over $60 per barrel, but in the meantime the price could be unpredictable.

“I think we will see an era of volatility,” he said, adding: “You may argue the fundamentals point to a slightly higher oil price than we see at the moment.”

As expected, Shell also announced it was would begin rewarding shareholders in cash rather than issuing more shares.

“Ben van Beurden has delivered an early Christmas present for Shell shareholders,” said Nicholas Hyett, analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, of the scrapping of the scrip dividend which was introduced after Shell bought gas behemoth BG Group for £35bn in 2016.

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We are all responsible for our planet

Arnoud De Meyer For The Straits Times 28 Nov 17;

Singapore can improve on its approach to use of plastic bags, recycling waste and sustainability.
Two rather alarming reports were published earlier this month about the state of our planet.

The United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned that the average temperature on earth is rising faster than expected, and that the consequences are unpredictable, given the non-linear nature of the effects of warming. Separately, a group of United States agencies released a report saying that global warming is real and the consequence of human activities.

The concerned citizen and scientist in me wondered what we can do about it. The first reaction is, of course, to look at the government and wait for its actions. But the point I want to make today is that we all can take action.

I was reminded of a conversation I had a few months ago with a group of European exchange students at the Singapore Management University (SMU). I asked them about their experiences at the university and here in Singapore.

As usual, I received quite a few positive comments about the country. I thus challenged them to name one thing that Singapore could do better in. I was surprised when one of them blurted: "This country still lives in the 20th century when it comes to selective waste collection and sustainability". To prove his point, he added: "You know, they still use styrofoam here; and you get plastic bags in the supermarkets!"

It is true that in most European countries, styrofoam packaging is being phased out and plastic bags are hardly available in supermarkets. If you want to get such bags, you have to pay a rather hefty sum. Most of his friends voiced support for his observation.

I was heartened to some extent when they said that at least at SMU, there was a possibility for selective waste collection and composting of food waste for use in SMU's garden.

I countered their assertion by pointing out that the National Environment Agency organises quite a number of campaigns, such as Keep Singapore Clean, Clean and Green Singapore, and Energy Efficient Singapore.

However, the exchange students felt that although the government agencies are taking action, citizens here are not very engaged when it comes to sustainability.

I do agree with them that we cannot leave the responsibility for sustainability to governments alone.

The issue is so overwhelming that all of us need to work together. Citizens and businesses need to take on more responsibility and be more proactive. We cannot have a short-term egocentric view, but have to take it upon ourselves to ensure the long-term viability of our planet for the coming generations.

We all need to decide together how we want to live together tomorrow, and that will require action today. We cannot keep kicking the can forward when it comes to actions to preserve our environment!

It sounds like an impossible task, but well-known development economist Jeffrey Sachs, who recently delivered a lecture at SMU, pointed out that it is still possible to reverse the global warming trend.

He argued that we have to make a few very challenging transitions: a demographic transition to limit the growth of the world population, an energy transition away from carbon-based fuels, an ecological transition so that we grow our food without exhausting our natural environment, and a governance transition so that long-term objectives take priority over short-term purely financial objectives. He also pointed out the key word is collaboration: between governments, but also between the government, business and civic society.

In September, we had also welcomed the former prime minister of the Netherlands, Mr Jan Balkenende, as a speaker at SMU. He was here in his role as chairman of the Dutch Sustainable Growth Coalition. This is a group comprising well-known Dutch companies such as AkzoNobel, DSM, Heineken, KLM, Philips, Shell and Unilever.

These multinationals share the conviction that long-term financial and economic value and success are inextricably linked to minimised environmental impact, social progress and inclusiveness. They go beyond this conviction and carry out studies, report on their actions and initiatives, and take the lead to provide governments with advice on how to push the sustainability agenda.

COMPANIES CAN TAKE THE LEAD

They realise that they cannot act alone, because doing so would put them in a very unfavourable competitive position; but by acting together, they can engage in pre-competitive collaboration and undertake effective dialogue with stakeholders.

Why should companies take such a proactive role? Perhaps because sustainability is a good business driver: It helps them to build their reputation and it may create new profitable business models. But there is more.

Governments have a limited geographical reach. We may work hard on preserving our environment here in Singapore, but that will have little effect if similar actions are not taken by our neighbouring countries. Multilateral governmental initiatives are of course the solution, but agreeing on these initiatives takes much time and effort, and the implementation is always a big challenge.

Companies, on the other hand, are in a very different position. Their supply chains stretch over many countries, and they often have a deep understanding of all the externalities that our consumption here in Singapore creates.

The products in our supermarkets may look sustainable, but how much water had to be used to raise the shrimp or fish in Vietnam or Indonesia? How much carbon dioxide was produced to transport the fruits and vegetables from South Africa or New Zealand to Singapore?

Companies have much better insights into how much the real cost of producing such goods has been shifted to others or to future generations. They are certainly well-placed to take action to reduce the unwanted externalities.

But will they do so? The evidence suggests that it is not impossible. Under public pressure and scrutiny, they have for example, limited child labour in the textile industry and reduced slash-and-burn practices to create oil palm plantations.

Companies such as Heineken that produce a lot of beer in Africa have invested in ensuring that more than 60 per cent of the agricultural materials that go into their beer are locally sourced.

Companies could also create a circular economy where materials are re-used as much as possible. This stands in contrast to the linear production and consumption model that is about "take resources, make products and dispose the used product".

We in Singapore can be rightly satisfied that we recycle more than 50 per cent of our waste, but we mainly burn it for energy production and dump the non-incinerable waste and incineration ash into the Semakau Landfill. It is a good step in the right direction, but we could do so much more, by re-using products and components.

This can be achieved only through long-lasting design for reuse, maintenance, repair, remanufacturing, refurbishing and recycling. These are tasks which companies need to assume leadership in, and they excel in that role.

INDIVIDUAL CONTRIBUTIONS MATTER

Can we leave it all to the Government and companies? I am convinced individuals can also make a real contribution as citizens and consumers. There are at least three areas where each of us can make a difference: education for awareness, consumption choices and waste handling.

Let me return to my interaction with SMU's exchange students mentioned earlier. When they expressed their surprise about the continued use of styrofoam packaging and plastic bags in the supermarkets, one should not assume that they have a natural inclination for sustainability. It is just that they are used to it. They were raised in an environment where selective waste collection is widely practised.

In northern European cities, families often have up to 11 containers for different types of waste. These students know they have to bring bags to the supermarket or have to pay for them. And they have been made aware of the impact of plastic on the environment.

Many of them know the mantra: It takes one second to produce a plastic bag, about 20 minutes to use it, and perhaps decades if not centuries to get it out of the environment. It is all about education. Not the type of education in universities or schools, but the one at home, in the family where they can see and emulate role models of sustainability in action.

As consumers, we also have a very important role to play. Through our choices, we provide a signal to the suppliers of what we want. Do we really need that fruit or vegetable that has travelled thousands of kilometres, when similar food is available from our neighbours? Do we make careful use of all that we buy? Sometimes we don't have all the information but there are certain kinds of certification by independent organisations that can help. Let's be open to such information.

Finally, what do we do with products when they have been used? Do we simply throw them away, or do we ask ourselves whether they can be recycled or be used by others?

The selective collection of waste in Europe has resulted in a reduction of the total amount of waste per family per year. Many families have used food waste to produce compost, either individually per house, but often collectively with neighbours in the building. Clothes or small electronic products are now far more often sold through second-hand shops.

Let's not rely on governments alone to take action. We should all take charge of our planet, and to paraphrase President Emmanuel Macron of France, let's all work together to make this planet great again. All of us can contribute to that goal!

The writer is president of Singapore Management University.

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Wilmar becomes first palm oil company to link bank loan to sustainability performance

TAN WEIZHEN Today Online 27 Nov 17;

SINGAPORE — Wilmar International has become the first company in Asia as well as in the palm oil industry to take a loan with interest rate pegged to its sustainability efforts.

If the performance milestones are met, ING bank will reduce its interest rate for part of the loan in the following year, a joint press statement by Wilmar and ING said on Monday (Nov 27). When contacted, a Wilmar spokesman declined to disclose how much this amounts to.

The statement said that Wilmar has partnered with ING to convert a portion of its revolving credit facility of US$150 million into the “sustainability performance-linked loan”.

Wilmar’s performance will be tracked by Sustainalytics - a company that does sustainability and governance rankings and research - based on environmental, social and governance indicators.

Mr Ho Kiam Kong, Chief Financial Officer at Wilmar, said: “We believe that incorporating sustainability metrics into every aspect of our business, from daily operations to corporate financing, is key to creating value for our stakeholders.”

The statement said “the concept for this sustainability loan heralds a new approach for the green loans industry by encompassing not just environmental, but also social and governance aspects”.

Since March, ING has offered eight clients such loans. These include businesses in health technology, food and beverage, as well as the gas and electricity industries.

While loans linked to sustainability performance are relatively new, other forms of sustainability-related financing have been around for a while. For example, banks have issued green bonds which finance eligible businesses that contribute to a low-carbon and sustainable economy. According to the International Chamber of Commerce, green bond issuance nearly doubled to US$95.6 billion last year

Earlier this year, the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said it was looking at developing a set of recommendations for banks and financial institutions to adopt sustainable financing. This includes getting lenders to conduct more thorough screening of firms and their sustainable practices before issuing loans. Some of the recommendations could include better financing companies which are engaged in sustainable practices through green bonds or other incentives.

The Association of Banks in Singapore has also begun reaching out to banks to help them understand the issue, such as how they can screen companies before issuing loans.

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Malaysia: AG report - Land encroachment polluted dams

The Star 28 Nov 17;

MELAKA: Raw water supply in Melaka dams, especially in the Durian Tunggal Dam in Alor Gajah and Jus Dam in Jasin, were found to have been polluted as a result of land encroachment activities.

The Auditor-General’s Report 2016 (Series 2) said there were 721 violations of raw water quality regulations reported at nine water treatment plants between 2014 and 2016.

Chemical fertiliser, sand mining, catfish farming and rubber and oil palm plantation activities were identified as the main contributors of the pollution.

“If those activities were left uncontrolled, the functions of raw water in catchment areas will be jeopardised, causing deterioration in the environment,” said the report, which was released yesterday.

The report proposed that the state Water Regulatory Body does a detailed study on the quantity, quality and alternative sources of raw water to ensure optimum and sufficient supply, and also carries out monitoring and enforcement activities in dam areas to prevent further pollution. — Bernama

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Malaysia: Floods force almost 1,000 people in Terengganu from their homes

Bernama New Straits Times 28 Nov 17;

KUALA TERENGGANU: Floods which hit Terengganu following three days of heavy rain have sent 936 people from 308 families to 32 evacuation centres in five districts.

According to the State Disaster Management Committee secretariat, the Hulu Terengganu district is the worst-affected, with 515 people at 20 relief centres.

Setiu has 185 people at five relief centres; Dungun has 138 people at four centres; Marang has 59 people at two centres; and Besut has 39 people at one centre, it said.

The publicinfobanjir.water.gov.my website stated that as of 8am, several rivers in the state have breached their danger levels.

Sungai Telemong in Kuala Ping, Hulu Terengganu is at 20 metres; Sungai Nerus in Langkap, Setiu is at 22.12 metres; and Sungai Marang at the Pengkalan Berangan Bridge, Marang is at 3 metres.

The situation is expected to worsen as downpours are forecasted in several areas today. -- Bernama

Kelantan floods worsen; 1,563 people evacuated to relief shelters
Sharifah Mahsinah Abdullah New Straits Times 28 Nov 17;

KOTA BARU: The flooding situation in Kelantan which began on Saturday has worsened, with evacuees recorded at 1,563 as of this morning.

According to the state’s flood portal, the victims, from 436 families, are taking shelter at 28 relief centres in the districts of Pasir Mas, Pasir Putih, Bachok, Tanah Merah, Machang, Kuala Krai and Kota Baru.

Meanwhile, four rivers in the state have risen to their warning level, while another has breached its danger mark as of 7am.

Sungai Golok in Rantau Panjang is continuing to rise, having breached its danger level following non-stop rain since Saturday.

It was recorded at 10.06m as of 7am, which is 1.06m above its danger level.

Other rivers which are above their warning marks are Sungai Galas in Dabong, which is at 35.05m (its warning level is 35m); Sungai Lebir in Tualang at 32.36m (warning level: 31m); Krai Steps at 23.05m (warning level: 22.50m) and Jenob at 22.57m (warning level: 22.50m).

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Greenpeace slams Indonesia palm oil industry on deforestation

AFP 27 Nov 17;

`Greenpeace slammed Indonesia's palm oil industry Monday for failing to live up to a pledge to halt deforestation, as the lucrative sector faces possible restrictions in Europe over environmental concerns.

Palm oil is used in everything from soap to frozen pizza, but a consumer backlash has forced dozens of the world’s largest food and drink manufacturers to address its ecological impact.

Vast swathes of rainforest are destroyed to make way for palm oil plantations, threatening endangered species and pushing indigenous people off their lands.

International corporations, including Unilever, Kellogg and Mondelez, have pledged to adopt environmentally friendly supply chains by 2020.

But Greenpeace said in a report published on Monday that large palm oil traders are failing on that commitment.

The environmental group found that most of the 11 major traders operating in Indonesia did not have strict systems to monitor the origin of their goods and were not calling out non-compliant producers.

"Broadly, the palm oil industry has agreed to end deforestation. The issue -- and it is a critical one -- is only two of the 11 (traders) we looked at was actually able to say when they are going to end deforestation," Richard George, a UK-based forest campaigner at Greenpeace, told AFP.

None of the firms contacted by AFP replied to requests for comment on the report.

The Greenpeace report comes against the backdrop of mounting concerns about palm oil's environmental impact.

The European Union, the world's second largest consumer after India, passed a resolution in April calling for tougher environmental standards for palm oil linked to deforestation.

Indonesia and Malaysia -- the world’s two largest producers -- have been lobbying against the resolution.

Both countries have slammed possible EU import restrictions as unfair, and a move that would harm millions of mostly small-scale farmers.

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Indonesia: Government initiates rejuvenation program for North Sumatra's palm oil plantations

Antara 27 Nov 17;

Serdang Bedagai, N Sumatra (ANTARA News) - The government has initiated a program to rejuvenate palm oil plantations in North Sumatra spread across 9,109.29 hectares in 12 districts.

Serdang Bedagai, Langkat, South Labuhan Batu, Labuhan Batu, Asahan, Batubara, Simalungun, North Labuhan Batu, North Padan Lawas, Padang Lawas, Deli Serdang, and Central Tapanuli are the districts outlined for the implementation of the program.

"The province has a total of 470 thousand hectares of palm oil plantations, of which at least 350 thousand hectares need to be rejuvenated. Despite the wide area, we should rejuvenate the trees to increase their productivity," President Joko Widodo noted in his speech in Dolok Masihul Sub-district of Serdang Bedagai District, North Sumatra, on Monday.

Widodo said the trees aged between 25 and 30 years were not productive and should be rejuvenated.

The government, through the People`s Palm Oil Replanting Program, is providing funds to farmers to conduct replanting activities in their palm oil plantations.

"Palm oil is the green gold of our country, as Indonesia is one of the biggest producers of palm oil not only in Asia or South Asia but also globally," the president noted.

He said Indonesia also produces raw materials needed to manufacture soaps, cosmetics, margarine, cooking oil, and pharmaceuticals.

Palm oil is also one of the raw materials for producing biodiesel fuel used in vehicles.

Widodo remarked that Indonesia is aiming to become the producer of palm oil derivative products.

"The industrial management of palm oil should be improved. We should boost ways to manage, preserve, and replant the fields," Widodo noted.

Besides this, the government had rejuvenated palm oil fields in South Sumatra Province that are located in Musi Banyuasin District, spanning 4,100 hectares, in last October.

The total area of palm oil plantations in Indonesia reaches 11.9 million hectares, of which at least 4.6 million hectares belong to the private sector.

Palm oil trees to be rejuvenated are aged over 25 years and produce less than 10 tons of palm oil fruits per year.

Reported by Desca Lidya N
(UU.B019/A/KR-BSR/F001)
Editor: Heru Purwanto


President plants palm tree for North Sumatra`s rejuvenation program
Antara 27 Nov 17;

Serdang Bedagai, N Sumatra (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo symbolically planted a palm oil tree in Kota Tengah Village, North Sumatra, Monday, to launch a government program to rejuvenate palm oil plantations of smallholders in the province.

Palm oil is the green gold of Indonesia, as it offers several benefits to improve the living standards of the Indonesian people, particularly those engaged in palm oil plantations, the president told palm oil growers attending the function.

Indonesia is the world`s largest palm oil producer, he said, adding that palm oil can be used as a raw material to produce soaps, cooking oil, and various products that will have a positive impact on the country`s foreign exchange earnings.

"Until now, palm oil has also been used as a raw material to produce biodiesel," he said.

To participate in the palm oil replanting program, farmers are required to hold land certificates. This means the farmers on whose lands palm oil trees will be planted must hold a certificate, he explained.

To this end, the government has helped palm oil growers secure land certificates without wasting time, he said.

By holding land certificates, palm oil growers will be able to cultivate their land, he said.

Indonesia is now listed as the world`s largest producer of crude palm oil (CPO) and along with Malaysia contributes some 85 percent of the global CPO production. In 2015, Indonesia and Malaysia had each produced 31.28 million tons and 21 million tons of CPO.

Based on the 2010 roadmap for the development of the downstream palm oil industry, Indonesia`s CPO output is projected to reach 40 million tons in 2020. In line with the roadmap, the country`s CPO production is expected to increase by an average of 6.8 percent per year.

To maintain its status as the world`s largest CPO producer, Indonesia needs to expand its palm oil plantations, and above all, rejuvenate its old palm plantations.

(T.S012/A/KR-BSR/A014)
Editor: Heru Purwanto

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India: 53 students selected for dugong scholarship

The Hindu 27 Nov 17;

The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), which has launched ‘Dugong recovery project’ in coordination with the State Fisheries department and introduced ‘dugong scholarship’ programme to elicit the support of the fisherfolk, has selected 53 students – wards of fishermen for a monthly scholarship of Rs. 500 each.

The WII, which was making collective efforts for the implementation of the project and the conservation of dugongs in Gulf of Mannar, has shortlisted the students after conducting written examinations in Ramanatahpuram, Pudukottai and Thanjavur districts in June – July, K. Sivakumar, Scientist, WII, and project inspector, said.

The scholarship programme was aimed at getting the support of the fishing community, which was one of the main objectives of this project, he said. The selected students would be given the scholarship for two years with effect from June this year, he said. In all, 779 students had appeared for the examination — 316 from class XI and 463 from class IX from 20 different schools from the three coastal districts, PVR Prem Jothi, Marine Biologist, WII, said.

The top 14 students were felicitated by P.C. Tyagi, Principal, Chief Conservator of Forest.

The toppers were facilitated at the International Consultative Workshop conducted by WII and UNESCO on “Pilot Testing of Management Effectiveness Evaluation (MEE) Framework for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) including Coastal and Marine World Heritage Sites of India”, held at Thoothukudi recently.

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Best of our wild blogs: 27 Nov 17

17 Dec (Sun): FREE workshop just for youths on marine outreach!
wild shores of singapore

The Story of Shells – Part 1
Mei Lin NEO

Juvenile Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) being scavenged by Weaver Ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) @ Pasir Ris
Monday Morgue

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'Closed loop' urban farm in Queenstown tackles food waste with insects

Wendy Wong Channel NewsAsia 26 Nov 17;

SINGAPORE: As the Government ramps up efforts to reduce food waste and raise awareness of the problem, one urban farm in Singapore has been trying to lighten this load with the help of an insect.

Set up earlier this year, Citizen Farm in Queenstown has been using the black soldier fly to help grow its vegetables, as food for its fish and to help tackle food waste - the first in Singapore to incorporate these insects as part of farming practice.

The "closed loop" farm runs on a circular economy approach, by feeding the insect larvae with food waste from restaurants and supermarkets, turning this into nutrient-rich fertiliser.

Once the larvae transform into pupae, the insects are fed to jade perch fish which the farm rears. The fish subsequently secrete waste that becomes fertiliser for its vegetables.

Leftover agriculture waste - or produce that cannot be sold - is fed to the larvae, which then produces waste that becomes fertiliser.

The farm currently produces around 150kg of vegetables and fish a month, and goes through the same weight of food waste a day for its insect farm, which currently houses about 10kg of the black soldier fly's pupae.

According to head of Citizen Farm Darren Ho, the fly is also "easy to manage" as it does not transmit diseases, possesses a short life cycle of about six weeks and is a "shy insect" as it avoids human habitats.

Singapore generated 791,000 tonnes of food waste last year - about two bowls of rice daily - and this is set to grow along with the country's size and affluence.

Mr Ho told Channel NewsAsia that the purpose of such farming is to look at waste as a "resource" instead.

"The purpose of closed loop farming is to look at waste as a resource which we can then utilise to be looped back into our food cycle," said Mr Ho. "Food waste is something Singapore has in copious amounts."

"It is an issue to take them (food waste) out of the equation - so why don’t we take that to put it back into the food system through urban farming today, as urban farming becomes a lot more widespread in our economy?"

There are also wider benefits to running such a closed loop system in Singapore as opposed to conventional farming, according to Professor William Chen, the director of the food science and technology programme at Nanyang Technological University.

Benefits include cutting out the need to add chemical fertilisers to the soil and saving on the cost of fish feed, which can contribute to up to 50 per cent of a farm's operating costs, said Prof Chen.

"In Singapore we have very limited natural resources. We only allocate less than 1 per cent of land for agriculture and we import 90 per cent of food," said Prof Chen. "So closed loop farming provides a very attractive alternative in terms of sustainability of food production, because we rely less on land and use less water and energy."

"Therefore this actually contributes significantly to our goal in enhancing food security in Singapore."

He noted that the technology was not a new one that had come "out of nowhere" but one that had been used in neighbouring countries such as Indonesia and Thailand for more than a thousand years.

"(For example), in rice paddy fields, the farmer will keep the ducks or fish. So it’s already closed loop because the fish would take the discharge from the duck and the fish discharge will become fertiliser for the rice," he said.

Citizen Farm said it has plans to sell the insect as pet food and animal feed in the near future if this is approved by the authorities.

"The insect is very versatile – they can eat virtually anything including food waste," Prof Chen said. "The insect has similar nutritional profile as other animal proteins. So the insect grow on this food waste can be nicely fit into this closed loop farming practice."

Source: CNA/nc

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Malaysia: Johor government to acquire water services company SAJ Ranhill

Halim Said New Straits Times 26 Nov 17;

ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johor state government will soon sit in a meeting with SAJ Ranhill Sdn Bhd to embark on a move to gain full control over the water company operation in the state by acquiring the majority shares in the company equity.

State public works, rural and regional development committee chairman Datuk Hasni Mohamed said the move to increase the state government shares in the water utility company was to reposition itself in the state water management operations in terms of having power to control and obtaining rights in decision making relating to the water development in the state.

Hasni said at current the state do not have a say in SAJ Ranhill operations as it only holds 20 per cent shares of the company equity which limits its power to monitoring, and restricted to regulating the water supply and distributions in the state only.

"If the move to increase the state government shares via full acquisition of its equity or at 51 per cent of the shares, it will be purely base on revisioning our business planning with SAJ Ranhill and not a hostile takeover," he told the press during a break at the 13th State Assembly meeting.

Hasni said the matter was raised during the assembly meeting in response to Bukit Permai and Rengit assemblymen questions on the state water operations since the last water restructuring exercise between SAJ Ranhill and the Johor government made almost a decade ago.

Hasni said the state government is also open to options.

He said SAJ Ranhill president and chief executive officer Tan Sri Hamdan Mohamad will probably attend the meeting.

"The meeting will include Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and I, as the outcome of the decision will also look into the water consumption of the Johor consumers," he said.

Hasni said with the insertion of state government as main shareholders in the equity will give autonomous power for the government to regulate the state water tariff and development spending on state water assets and resources.

He also said the move was to safeguard the state government water assets and resources from external takeover should SAJ Ranhill plans to sell off its shares in future.

"However the move would require a review and subjected to an approval from the National Water Service Commission (SPAN) for the state government to have full control over SAJ Ranhill water operation in the state," he said.


SAJ Ranhill cannot supply water to Forest City, Johor State Assembly told
The Star 27 Nov 17;

ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Johore state assembly today debated that water supply services company, SAJ Ranhill Sdn Bhd, might supply water to the developer of the Forest City project in Gelang Patah.

Forest City is a 1,386 hectare mixed development project, which includes a smart city on man-made islands along the Johor Straits.

Datuk Tengku Putra Haron Aminurrashid Tengku Haamid Jumat (BN-Kempas) said such a move would be against the state's government's decision that the developer source its own water supply for the project.

"I understand that the state government has conveyed this decision to the developer. Forest City has to draw water from a desalination process or through other mechanisms deemed fit.

“This will allow the state government to accord priority to domestic households,” he said, adding that rumours were rife that Forest City would obtain water supply from SAJ Ranhill.

“If there is truth in the rumour, then this just goes to show the developer's irresponsible attitude and total disregard for the state's government's clear directive to source its own water supply,” he said in the Johore state assembly here today.

He also said Johoreans should not suffer at the expense of the developer's profit-oriented motive which could spark a water crisis in the state.

Tengku Putra Haron revealed that the Forest City project, when completed, required more than 600 million cubic meters of water, daily, which was almost equal to Johor Bahru and Pasir Gudang's daily water supply.

Based on the high demand for water supply, he was concerned that SAJ Ranhill Sdn Bhd may compromise on domestic household supply.

"I am worried that this can create a very serious water crisis if the issue is not delved into deeply,” he added.

Tengku Putra Haron Aminurrashid also urged the state government to take control of SAJ Ranhill Sdn Bhd via a mandatory takeover for fear that it may fall into the hands of a foreign party.

He suggested that the state government, which had cash reserves close to RM4 billion, acquire SAJ Ranhill Sdn Bhd from its majority shareholder, Ranhill Holdings Bhd

"It's possible that the major shareholder may sell SAJ Ranhill Sdn Bhd to a foreign party. If that happens, we will lose control of not only our water industry but our national sovereign asset,” he pointed out.

Johor assembly hears concerns over Forest City's water supply
Straits Times 27 Nov 17;

ISKANDAR PUTERI - A Johor politician told the state assembly on Monday (Nov 27) that the Johor government had told developer of the Forest City project to source for its own water supply.

Tengku Putra Haron Aminurrashid Tengku Hamid Jumat, an assemblyman for the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, was quoted by Bernama news agency as saying that if Forest City does not get its own supply from desalination or by other means, it could spark a water crisis in Johor.

This was the first time that the issue of how Forest City would get its water supply was raised, with the government assemblyman using unusually blunt language.

The giant project involves the raising of four man-made islands totalling 1,386 ha in the Johor Strait facing Tuas.

The project is majority owned by China's Country Garden Holdings. Its other shareholders are the Johor government and Johor's Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.

When fully completed, it is meant to house some 700,000 people.

Datuk Tengku Putra said the project, when completed, would require more than 600 million cubic meters of water daily.

This was almost equal to the amount supplied daily to Johor Baru city and its neighbouring Pasir Gudang district, Bernama quoted him as saying.

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"I understand that the state government has conveyed this decision (of water supply) to the developer. Forest City has to draw water from a desalination process or through other mechanisms deemed fit," he was quoted as saying.

"This will allow the state government to accord priority to domestic households," he said, adding that rumours were rife that Forest City would obtain water supply from the state's main water company SAJ Ranhill.

He told the state legislature, as reported by Bernama: "If there is truth in the rumour, then this just goes to show the developer's irresponsible attitude and total disregard for the state's government's clear directive to source its own water supply."

He added that Johor residents, totalling 3.6 million people, should not suffer at the expense of the developer's profit-oriented motive which could spark a water crisis.

He said he is concerned that SAJ Ranhill may compromise on domestic household supply.

"I am worried that this can create a very serious water crisis if the issue is not delved into deeply," he was quoted as saying.

Mr Tengku Putra urged the state government to take control of SAJ Ranhill via a mandatory takeover for fear that it may fall into the hands of a foreign party. He did not elaborate.

He suggested that the state government, which had cash reserves close to RM4 billion (S$1.31 billion), acquire SAJ Ranhill from its majority shareholder Ranhill Holdings.

"It's possible that the major shareholder may sell SAJ Ranhill to a foreign party. If that happens, we will lose control of not only our water industry but our national sovereign asset," Bernama quoted him as saying.

Kempas assemblyman urges Johor govt to assume control of SAJ Ranhill
Halim Said New Straits Times 27 Nov 17;

ISKANDAR PUTERI: A Johor state assemblyman has called for the state government to take full control of SAJ Ranhill Sdn Bhd.

At the 13th Johor State Assembly Meeting yesterday, Kempas assemblyman Datuk Tengku Putra Haron Aminurrashid said the state government should push for compulsory acquisition amid fears that the integrated water supply company may fall into foreign hands.

He said that with a cash reserve of almost RM4 billion, the state government can afford to acquire SAJ Ranhill through its majority shareholder, a public-listed company Ranhill Holding Bhd for a fraction of the amount.

“However remote this may be, there is still a possibility that Ranhill is sold by its majority shareholder to investors from a neighbouring country. In such a situation, we would lose control over not only of the water industry but also a national treasure which symbolises our sovereignty.

“If this happens, we could also subject the state to the possibility of economic sabotage by the competing foreign country. This would put to a halt to the state government’s aspiration of being an economic powerhouse in Southeast Asia,” he said.

Tengku Putra said the state government can make an offer to Ranhill for this to take effect, failing which, the state government should seek for a compulsory acquisition of the company under the provisions of the Water Services Industry Act 2006.

Under Section 114 of the Act, the federal government through the Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water can exercise its rights and powers as well as any other relevant acts, statutes or regulations to assist the state government in the compulsory acquisition of the water company.

This includes invoking Section 114 of WSIA in order to address issues of national interest to ensure security, sustainability and viability of the water supply industry in Johor.

“It is time for the state government to restore the ownership of the Johor water company to the people of Johor and that it should be done without delay,” he added.

Tengku Putra also called for a forensic audit on the water tariff between the state government and SAJ Ranhill as provided for under the Water Supply Agreement 2009.

He said that under the agreement, the state government is selling water to SAJ Ranhill at a much lower rate than that to Petronas for the Pengerang project.

“If the same rate is imposed, the state government could have collected an additional revenue of millions of ringgit which can be distributed for the development of the state and the people,” he said.

Tengku Putra also raised the issue of SAJ Ranhill possibly offering to supply water to the developers of Forest City, saying that this goes against the state government’s decision for the project to find its own water resources.

“I understand that the state government had informed the developers that they have to seek their own water resources either through desalination process or through other mechanisms deemed fit by the developers. This will enable the state government to prioritise the use of water resources for the domestic needs. The rakyat must come first.”


Ranhill says no plans to sell SAJ Ranhill
The Star 27 Nov 17;

It issued the statement on Monday to refute a news article entitled “Johor government to acquire water services company SAJ Ranhill”.

“On behalf of the board of Ranhill, the company wishes to clarify that the company is not aware of the proposed acquisition by the Johor state government.

“The company has no intention to divest its present equity stake of 80% held in SAJ Ranhill Sdn Bhd,” it said.


Providing water to Forest City goes against state’s decision
zazali musa The Star 29 Nov 17;

ISKANDAR PUTERI: A Barisan Nasional lawmaker raised the issue of SAJ Ranhill Sdn Bhd offering to supply water to the developers of Forest City project during the Johor state assembly sitting.

Datuk Tengku Putra Haron Aminurrashid Jumat (BN-Kempas) said this goes against the state government’s decision for the project to find its own water resources.

“The state government had informed the developers that they have to seek their own water resources through desalination process or through other mechanisms deemed fit by the developers.

“This would enable the state government to prioritise the use of water resources for domestic needs.

Tengku Putra Haron said the state would be exposed to the possibility of a water crisis as Forest City requires about 600 million cubic litres of water daily.

He said the amount was equal to the water demand for all areas in Johor Baru and Pasir Gudang.

Tengku Putra Haron added that his constituency and several districts in the state were subjected to water rationing exercise last year because of a water crisis in Johor.

He had called upon the state government to take over water operator SAJ Ranhill through compulsory acquisition amid fears that the integrated water supply company might fall into foreign hands.

Tengku Putra Haron said with a cash reserve of almost RM4bil, the state government could afford to acquire SAJ Ranhill through its majority shareholder, public-listed Ranhill Holdings Bhd.

However remote the possibility may be, Ranhill could be sold by its majority shareholder to investors from a neighbouring country.

In such a situation, the state would lose control over not only the water industry, but also a national treasure which symbolises Johor’s sovereignty, he added.

Tengku Putra Haron said if this happened, Johor could also be subject to the possibility of economic sabotage by a competing foreign country.

He said this would put a halt to the state government’s aspiration of being a new economic powerhouse in the region.


Concerns aired over Forest City water supply
Johor politician warns of water crisis if project does not source for its own supply
Straits Times 28 Nov 17;

ISKANDAR PUTERI • A Johor politician told the state assembly yesterday that the Johor government had told the developer of the Forest City project to source for its own water supply.

Tengku Putra Haron Aminurrashid Tengku Hamid Jumat, an assemblyman for the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, was quoted by Bernama news agency as saying that if Forest City does not get its own supply from desalination or by other means, it could spark a water crisis in Johor.

This was the first time that the issue of how Forest City would get its water supply was raised, with the government assemblyman using unusually blunt language.


The project involves the raising of four man-made islands totalling 1,386ha in the Johor Strait facing Tuas. It is majority owned by China's Country Garden Holdings. Its other shareholders are the Johor government and Johor's Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar. When fully completed, it is meant to house some 700,000 people.

Datuk Tengku Putra said the project, when completed, would require over 600 million cubic metres of water daily - almost equal to the amount supplied daily to the city of Johor Baru and the neighbouring Pasir Gudang district.

"I understand that the state government has conveyed this decision (of the water supply) to the developer. Forest City has to draw water from a desalination process or through other mechanisms deemed fit," he added.

"This will allow the state government to accord priority to domestic households," he said, adding that rumours were rife that Forest City would obtain its water supply from the state's main water company SAJ Ranhill.

He told the state legislature, as reported by Bernama: "If there is truth in the rumour, then this just goes to show the developer's irresponsible attitude and total disregard for the state government's clear directive to source for its own water supply."

He added that Johor's 3.6 million residents should not suffer at the expense of the developer's profit-oriented motive which could spark a water crisis.

He also said he is concerned that SAJ Ranhill may compromise on domestic household supply.

"I am worried that this can create a very serious water crisis if the issue is not delved into deeply," he was quoted as saying.

Mr Tengku Putra urged the state government to take control of SAJ Ranhill via a mandatory takeover for fear that it may fall into the hands of a foreign party. He did not elaborate.

He suggested that the state government, which had cash reserves of close to RM4 billion (S$1.31 billion), acquire SAJ Ranhill from its majority shareholder Ranhill Holdings. "It's possible that the major shareholder may sell SAJ Ranhill to a foreign party. If that happens, we will lose control of not only our water industry, but also our national sovereign asset," he said.

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Malaysia: Annual monsoon season pounds Terengganu with torrential rain, strong winds

ADRIAN DAVID New Straits Times 26 Nov 17;

KUALA TERENGGANU: As the year end school holiday began, so did the annual monsoon season.

As reports of flooding in parts of Besut, Kuala Berang and Marang came in, other parts of the city centre experienced uprooted trees and rising water levels.

The state’s main rivers – Sungai Terengganu, Sungai Ibai, Sungai Kemaman, Sungai Setiu and Sungai Berang – are swelling up.

The Drainage and Irrigation Department reported that Sungai Chalok in Setiu had burst its banks at 7.47m high, which is above its 7m safe level, while Sungai Nerus at Kampung Pangkal recorded 20.57m (above its safe level of 20m).

Torrential rain has lashed the state since Saturday and the weather continues to be bleak as strong winds and thunderstorms continue to pound the state intermittently.

A trader at the exposition, Farhan Jusoh, 45, said that while a large number of the canopies were damaged, the heavy rain also resulted in losses as items such as toys, clothes, bags, shoes, souvenirs and food items were damaged.

“Many of us suffered losses and being small time traders, it will be difficult to get by,” he said.

Another trader, Aishah Yusof, 56, said she had to ‘close shop’ as virtually all her food was spoilt.

“This was a very bleak business outing for me and my family. We had looked forward for some brisk business during the school and year-end holidays.

“I hope the authorities will look into our plight,” she said.

Over at Marang, a Civil Defence Force spokesman said that senior citizen Norizan Abu Bakar, 80, had called in at 9.30am to report of uprooted trees in the neighbourhood.

Some of the large trees had fallen near the villagers’ homes but no serious damages or injuries were reported as at press time.

“We immediately despatched a team of six personnel on a Isuzu Delta lorry, equipped with chainsaws and ladders, to the scene.

“The affected areas were Taman Lot Marang, Wakaf Tapai, Kampung Kelulut, Medan Jaya, Alur Limbat, Kampung Kubu, Pengkalan Berangan and Kampung Rusila,” said the spokesman.

He added that clearance work was done by midday.

Meanwhile, Terengganu Civil Defence Force director Lt Col Che Adam Abdul Rahman advised the public to refer to the authorities for accurate and timely information on the monsoon floods.

He said that although waters were rising at rivers, the situation was still under control.

“The state’s integrated rescue teams are on standby to respond to any emergencies.

“We advise those living in low-lying areas to be prepared to be evacuated if the situation warrants, as continued heavy rain is bound to cause floods at these areas,” said Che Adam.

Additionally, the Malaysian Meteorological Department issued a severe weather warning over Terengganu and Kelantan till Wednesday.

The department expected adverse weather to continue over Tumpat, Pasir Mas, Kota Baru, Bachok, Pasir Puteh, Machang, Tanah Merah, Jeli, Kuala Krai and Gua Musang in Kelantan and over the whole of Terengganu.

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