"IT IS ALSO NOT THE QUESTION OF THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OWNS THE LAND AND CAN DO WHAT IT LIKES. IT IS ABOUT THE FUTURE OF SABAH AND SABAHANS,"

Harris throws weight behind anti-coal group

Kota Kinabalu: The Government should look at Sabah's electricity needs beyond the proposed 300MW coal-fired power plant at Sinakut, Darvel Bay, since there are strong objections by the people and the fact that there are many alternatives to produce power.

"It is not the end of the world without coal-fired power generation," former Chief Minister Datuk Harris Mohd Salleh, said in a statement.

"It is also not the question of that the Federal Government owns the land and can do what it likes. It is about the future of Sabah and Sabahans," said Harris.

He said he also made a near total switch from diesel generators to hydro and biogas power at a cost of only RM2million to generate more than one MW of electricity in his 3000ha Balung plantation last year, in keeping with the current world mood for clean energy.

"Based on what I read and heard from the Green groups and concerned citizens, I can see merits in their opposition to the proposed coal-fired power plant. Basically, I agree that preserving Sabah as a nature and beautiful country is worthy of help."

On the choice of Tunku, Lahad Datu, for siting the proposed 300MW coal-fired plant, Harris said:

"From the nature and beauty preservation perspective, the coastal belt stretching from the Dent Peninsular (Lahad Datu) northwards towards Sandakan Trusan-Kinabatangan and southwards towards Semporna-Tawau and KalimantanÉis the best marine environment not just in Malaysia but the world as a breeding and feeding ground of marine life."

He said this is the most productive area for seafood production and must be preserved at all costs.

He noted that strong objection is centred on the long term ecological consequences on the richest seafood basket of Darvel Bay, coming from sea-water based turbine cooling and flue gas de-sulphurization processes used in coal-fired plants which results in large non-stop discharge back into the sea of chlorinated waste water, nitric acids, salphate, coal-ash and thermal (hot) pollutants, over perhaps the next 50 years or more.

"Since there are many alternatives and strong objections, it is hard to understand why the Government is adamant to proceed with the coal-fired power plant," he said.

He asserted that alternatives to the 300MW coal-fired plant are many.

Firstly, power from the proposed 300MW Gas Fired Power Plant in Kimanis can be sent there through a Southern Grid from Kimanis to Tawau, meant to be completed by 2012 as clearly indicated in the SESB Electricity Master Plan for Sabah, he said.

"The Government spent RM600 million on the East-West Penamapang/Sigaliau (Sandakan) grid several years ago meant to have a capacity to transmit 1,000MW of electricity across Sabah but presently it is only carrying 50 to 100MW per day, much under-used.

"Together with the East-West Grid, the Southern Grid originally scheduled to be in built by 2012 is intended to act as a State Transmission Loop designed to carry more than 1,000MW between the east and west coasts without any fear of interruption because even if a transmission tower collapses between Penampang and Sagaliau (Sandakan), transmission can be switched to the Southern Grid between Kimanis and Tawau," Harris said.

In addition, if the Southern Grid is completed, not only can the 200MW Ulu Tomani hydro dam now in progress be hooked onto it, the 67MW geothermal potential discovered in Apas Kiri in Tawau can also eventually be developed and hooked on to it to form a nice low-cost, low carbon base load for the east coast," Harris said.

On the natural gas alternative, Harris said he often read claims that there are no viable gas deposits in the east coast of Sabah.

"As far as I know, in the Dent Peninsular itself, the British Colonial Government issued a licence to a French Company in the 1950s to extract gas on shore. However, at that time, the price of natural gas was very low coupled with no modern technology and not much was known about the deposits," Harris revealed.

"In addition, what about the Kalabakan gas deposits which is understood being explored by Petronas at present?

"Thirdly, the gas deposits in Nunukan, Indonesia just across the Tawau border is reportedly very large and I know for a fact that Nunukan is more than willing to sell it to Tawau. Besides, this gas field is only 70km from Tawau," Harris stressed.

"Fourthly, the talk in town in both Tawau and Nunukan is that there are large deposits of oil and gas in an area known as Ambalat Block located at the border between Indonesia and Malaysia," Harris said.

"Since this area is within the BIMP-EAGA and also given the close relationship between Indonesia and Malaysia, there is no problem to develop Ambalat oil and gas jointly, as is the case between Thailand and Malaysia," Harris suggested.

"I really think the Government should look into the possibilities of developing these natural gas sources," he said. There is also the question of timing.

"The delivery of the 300MW coal-fired plant will take at least 3-4 years whereas developing of or connecting any gas field in the area will take one year or two at the most.

"To be on the safe side, the proposed 300MW Power Generation in Kimanis should be increased to 600MW - 300MW be supplied to eastern Sabah and also perhaps to Brunei," Harris suggested.