David Chan
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah West Coast Smart Consumer Association has called for the resumption of the Trans-Sabah Gas Pipeline (TSGP) from Kimanis to the East Coast.
Its president David Chan said this is very critical and crucial for maintaining sustainable and cost-effective power generation in Sabah and protecting the state’s fragile ecosystem.
Chan was commenting on the matter which was raised by Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau in the Parliament asking why PETRONAS took gas away from Sabah for buyers of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) rather than supplying gas for Sabah’s power generation need.
Madius also questioned the present status of the TSGP project where money has been paid to the contractor even though the project has not started.
Chan said the association supports Madius raising these critical issues in view of the dire state of shortage of power generation and supply faced by Sabah, particularly SESB.
He is of the view that the most cost-effective and efficient long-term solution is to implement a gas turbine power generation plant in the East Coast of Sabah rather than to complete the Southern Link which is estimated to cost billions of ringgit.
“We wholeheartedly support Madius who is also Chairman of Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd for voicing out these issues and providing appropriate suggestions to resolve the long-term power shortage issue in Sabah,” said Chan, in a statement, today.
Saying that Sabah is being deprived of employing its own natural resource which is gas, Chan also urged the Federal Government to consider the potential of carbon credit which h would be beneficial to the country, especially for Sabah and Sarawak.
“Over the last 60 years, Sabah has maintained a well-balanced and sustainable social-economic development; where no heavy industrialisation coupled with an excellent forestry management policy.
“Having a market that trades the massive amount of carbon captured by our forests could boost our national income and create reserves to fund reforestation and eco-green education.
“It is time that the world should recognise Sabah’s tropical rainforest heritages and well-established wildlife animal protection sanctuaries.
“Sabah had sacrificed herself much by avoiding coal plants for power generation and biased towards cleaner energy; fossil fuel, natural gas and hydro.
“Otherwise, we would have enjoyed a cheaper power supply for the sake of protecting our ecosystem and environment,” he said.
