Masing To Critics: Show Us A Better Alternative

 

KUCHING: Land Development Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing has challenged critics of the state’s hydroelectricity programme to come up with better alternative source of energy.

“I would like to throw a challenge at them (critics) on two fronts. Firstly, please provide us with the best source of alternative power besides fossil fuel, and secondly, they have to stop breathing if they criticise just for the sake of criticising,” Masing told The Borneo Post here yesterday.

He was commenting on South-East Asia Renewable Energy People’s Assembly (Searepa)’s fierce criticism over the weekend of the state government’s intention to develop 12 dams to support the mammoth Sarawak Corridor of renewable Energy (Score).

These dams are to produce some 20,000 megawatt of electricity by 2030 to push the state to full industrialisation status.

SCORE is expected to employ some 1.5 million workers and would attract some RM300 billion worth of investments.

Searepa, during its regional meeting in Kota Kinabalu which was attended by more than 120 participants representing 11 nations in South-East Asia, made a declaration to reject the development of these 12 proposed dams.

It also urged the state government to abide by international standards in protecting indigenous people.
Searepa also said that it had discussed renewable energy problems in the nation and claimed that it was concerned with the construction of the mega dams to power polluting industries in the state.

“Across South-East Asia, we have witnessed the inefficiency, failure, and destruction caused by similar mega-dam projects. We have also witnessed the potential of community-based renewable energy projects and unanimously believe that instead of continuing to develop these mega-dams, there are many energy alternatives that are more efficient, environmentally friendly, and socially and culturally inclusive,” Searepa was quoted as saying.

Masing said the state government decided to focus on hydroelectricity as it was deemed to be the best choice when compared to other renewable energy such as solar and nuclear.

“Hydro-electricity is renewable and clean. What better source of energy do we have when we do not have the capability to develop our solar energy? On top of that, we are also unable to venture into nuclear energy as it could be very expensive and destructive.”

Masing reiterated that the state government would build the 12 mega dams as and when they were needed. “The 12 proposed dams are just the potential number of dams that could produce electricity on a commercial scale. At the moment, we don’t have to develop all of them.”

So far, out of the 12 proposed HEP dams, the state had built two: Bakun (2,400 MW) and the 70 per cent completed Murum (944 MW).

The remaining 10 on the drawing board are Lawas (50 MW), Limbang (150 MW), Tutoh (220 MW), Baram (1,000 MW), Belepeh (110 MW), Metwajah (300 MW), Belaga (260 MW), Linau (290 MW), Baleh/Putai (1400 MW), and Ulu Air (54 MW).

*Source from The Borneo Post : http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/11/08/masing-to-critics-show-us-a-better-alternative/#ixzz2Bc2kmiq6

Sarawak Energy’s RM30b Loan Stumps DAP

Who approved RM30 billion loan for Sarawak Energy Bhd which recorded an annual after tax profit of only RM330 million?

How did Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) manage to secure a RM30 billion loan when its annual after tax profits amounted to only RM330 million? Is it because SEB or Sarawak Electricity Supply Corporation (Sesco) is a state government- owned company?
Either way the RM30 billion loan to SEB has left Sarawak DAP stumped.“It is a very shocking figure. It may take 100 years to pay the loan plus the interests.“Even Sarawak’s annual revenue is only between RM4 billion and RM5 billion. How is it possible then to secure a RM30 billion loan?

“Surely there is something extraordinary here which needs full explanation,” DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen said, adding that SEB chief executive officer Torstein Dale Sjotveit had to explain why SEB is “borrowing 100 times more than” its annual profit.
Chong said thus far both SEB and Sesco have been very quiet about the loan which was entered into in June last year.“Why is Sesco keeping so quiet on this matter? We want to know the purpose of the loan and who approved it,” he said.

Chong, who is Kota Sentosa assemblyman, added that the issue was of concern to Sarawakians who are worried that if Sesco cannot pay the loan, the whole of Sarawak will go bankrupt.

“How much is Sesco paying the interest on this loan? If you are talking about interest of 10%, Sesco is going to pay at least RM3 billion, which is equivalent to the state revenue.

“And if you talk about 5% interest, the amount will be RM1.5 billion. And this amount involves the interest only, but what about the payment for the loan?” asked Chong, who is also the MP for Bandar Kuching.

Government must explain

He also wanted to know how Sesco is planning pay for the loan given that its annual profit after tax was RM276 million in 2008, RM217 million in 2009 and RM336 million in 2010.

“That amount of profit is only about one percent or so of the loan that Sesco has raised,” he said, and urged the government to give a full explanation on the loan.
The state government under Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud has proposed to build 12 more dams, excluding Bakun and Batang Ai hydro-electric dams, to produce 7,000MW in order to attract RM20 billion investments.

The new dams will be sited at Baram, Baleh, Belaga, Metjawah, Lawas, Tutoh, Limbang, Murum, Limau and Belepeh, Ulu Ai and Batang Ai extension in Lubok Antu.
SEB has been entrusted to build 12 more dams in Sarawak.

It is understood that the RM30 billion-loan could be used to finance the construction of these dams.The Baram dam alone is expected to cost RM4 billion.

* Taken from Free Malaysia Today portal : http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/07/18/sarawak-energys-rm30b-loan-stumps-dap/