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“Massive Natural Heritage Destruction at Seguntor – Site for the Sandakan Coal – Fired Power Plant”

Transparency Needed on Coal-Fired Power Plant!

Posted by Save Sandakan On January - 23 - 2009

"More discussions, forums and seminars on coal-fired power plant", said CASH DP Nordin

More Discussions, forums and seminars should be organized by the Government and Tenaga Nasional Berhad so that the people of Sandakan and environmental organisations could participate and understand the urgent need of a power generating plant that could produce almost no carbon emissions as part of the fight against global warming and to save our environment from destructions.

Many critics until today don’t understand as to why the relevant authorities chose coal-fired plant to generate electricity in the east coast instead of many other alternatives that are available. Environmental and social concerns are the major issues that the proposed coal-fired plant in Sandakan being objected by environmental organizations and individuals.

The real dilemma facing operators of a coal-powered plant in non-coal producing countries nowadays is the price of coal has exploded and it continues to rise rapidly. One of the reasons is that is the last 20 years, official coal reserves have fallen by 170 billion tons.

To put this number in perspective global coal consumption in 2007 was six billion tons. Reserves figures are dropping far more quickly than actual extraction.

Australia, the main exporter of coal, has recently ratified the Kyoto Protocol and has targeted 20% of its energy will come from renewable energy sources by the year 2020. Indonesia, the exporter which is also major supplier to Asian countries has adopted a policy of attempting to diversify its domestic energy sources.

International banks are now considering climate change and carbon emissions among the risks in lending money for electric power plant projects, so borrowing money for such projects may cost more for power generation options that result in a large carbon footprint. This provides added incentive for governments to look towards clean and renewable energy sources.

In some European countries, coal-powered plants have turned solar by utilizing the same turbines used by coal to generate electricity.

A mirror called fresnal reflectors are used to capture the sun rays and heat water in a large tube. Steam lines deliver the solar energy to the adjacent coal-powered plant to turn the turbines.

Many experts and pro coal-fired plant criticised that by using solar as an alternative energy is not feasible because they are not capable of producing or to generate more than the 300 megawatt of energy required for the east coast. In the United States, a 300 megawatt solar facility has already been built that can supply enough energy to power 240,000 homes in New Mexico and a 280 megawatt solar power plant will begin operation in 2011 in Arizona.

In Australia, a solar power plant that can generate 154 megawatts of solar energy will go in operation in 2010 near Mildura, Victoria. Solar systems will continue to expand in Australia with the goal of 270,000 megawatts of output from a number of solar power plants to be built throughout the country by 2020.

Whatever the alternatives available to us, the relevant government agencies responsible for the supply of electricity to consumers should devote all their energy to promoting the public interests not the power supplier.

A framework for comprehensive planning that considers environmental, public health and safety concerns must be a priority. Now is the time to focus on the real problem accountability and oversight over the industry and put the public interest first.

Nordin Thani
Deputy President, CASH.

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