Yes, Coal Fires Me Up

Those who know me will tell you that there is one issue that really riles me up - and that is the federal government's plan to build a coal-fired power plant in eastern Sabah, not too far from where the first rays of the sun hit Borneo island every morning. I wrote this commentary, published in the New Straits Times on 28th December, 2009.

All Fired Up Over Coal Power Plant

IT is never easy to draw the line between development needs and conservation of natural resources that are becoming more scarce by the minute. And nowhere else in Malaysia is this more clear than in Sabah, a Bornean state known not only for its gas, petroleum and timber but also for some of the last remaining pristine rainforests, endemic wildlife and an amazing array of fish and corals.

As Sabah moves forward to improve critical infrastructure like airports, roads and schools, and strives to reduce poverty by bridging regional divide, its leaders also face a dilemma when it comes to striking a balance between development and the ever increasing global urgency to protect the environment.

For the last three months, a proposal to build a 300-megawatt coal-fired power plant at Felda Sahabat in Lahad Datu has arguably become the most widely debated issue in Sabah-based dailies, social networks like Facebook and in blogs.

At a recent media retreat, Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) was firm in its argument that a coal-fired plant is the only viable solution for the east coast region that is suffering from constant power outages, although the East-West power grid was commissioned not too long ago "to solve power woes on the east coast".

At the same event, the utility company made its case by saying hydro, solar and biomass-sourced power would not be able to produce the same volume without excessive costs in the short term.

The plant, estimated to cost RM1.7 billion, a hike of a staggering RM400 million compared with the figure given two years ago when the proposal was first made, will import 1.22 million tonnes of coal a year from Kalimantan in Indonesia.

The coal will be transported in 10,000-tonne barges through the Sulawesi and Sulu seas, that form part of a marine eco-region that a recent Malaysian government-funded expedition discovered to have "many untapped resources and new marine species that could help create spin-offs".

The announcement in September by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak caught many by surprise as the Sabah government had on April 2 last year told SESB and Tenaga Nasional Berhad to look for alternative sources of energy.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman was at that time quoted as saying that after weighing the pros and cons, the government had decided to do away with the proposal and not to risk the health and welfare of the communities in the Lahad Datu area.

While a handful of Sabah leaders changed their tune in support of the plant, they might have an uphill task answering how power generated from coal is in line with Malaysia's commitments to the world.

The latest is the pledge at the United Nations Climate Change Conference to cut Malaysia's carbon emissions by 40 per cent compared with 2005 levels, which was applauded by foreign diplomats.

Malaysia, through waters off Sabah's east coast which will be affected by the plant, is part of the Coral Triangle Initiative that is home to 76 per cent of all known coral species and 37 per cent of coral reef fish species, turning it into an important zone for food security.

Locally, Sabah is gaining its footing as a focal point for sustainably-managed forests, carbon offset projects, wildlife and habitat conservation to which some international donors pledge millions every year.

Renowned "Blue Ocean" strategy guru Professor W. Chan Kim, who two months ago spoke before state leaders in Kota Kinabalu, suggested that Sabah take advantage of its large tracts of rainforest and vast natural resources by promoting itself as the "garden for the world".

"Rather than exploit the natural resources God has given us, we need to conserve them and attract the world to us and make more income, raise the people's standard of living and eradicate poverty," Kim had told his audience.

Sabah, which has 1.4 million ha of its land planted with oil palm, also stands to gain from power generated from biomass, fitting into the National Green Technology Policy that clearly states the need to tap into renewable resources.

The government also needs to speed up construction of a 300MW gas-powered plant in Kimanis, as more questions are raised on the government's decision to build a 500km gas pipeline to Petronas' liquefied natural gas plant in Bintulu, Sarawak, eventually feeding it a resource that comes from waters off Sabah.

Green Surf, a coalition of five non-governmental organisations, including World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia, says a coal-fired plant should be "put to rest" as it goes against government commitments.

The coalition also claims that independent power producers in Sabah are running below efficiency, leading to power cuts and that SESB must first solve this issue before even looking at any other options.

"The environment was not a major concern in the past and climate change was not even an issue. Now we know better. So, let's do the right thing for Sabah's future," WWF Malaysia Borneo programme chief technical officer Dr Rahimatsah Amat says.

If Green Surf's signature campaign and citizens writing to the prime minister's 1Malaysia blog expressing their deep concern over the coal-fired plant can be taken as indicators of protest, it is now in the hands of policymakers to walk the talk and do the right thing for Sabah.