I refer to the Malaysiakini report Campaign against coal-fired plants gathers steam .

I am an engineer specialising in power and hence, strongly support Sapp’s move to stop the construction of a coal-fired power plant in Seguntor, Sandakan, based on the following reasons:

1. Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) has completed a so-called east coast grid which basically connects electricity generated from all SESB power stations around Sandakan, Tawau, Sempurna, Lahad Datu.

Further, electricity generated from an independent power producer (IPP) in Tawau, two or more IPPs in Sandakan and the rest are also linked to this east coast grid. So, electricity supply for the east coast is guaranteed.

However, the east coast grid is not very reliable because the system is not stable. The IPPs around the east coast are not generating in full capacity because of over-supply. SESB has spent a huge amount of money to build this east coast grid but has ended up with an unreliable system.

No matter how many IPPs or coal-fired power plants you build in the east coast, as long as the grid is not stable, you cannot guarantee power supply.

2. Most IPPs at the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) are using gas. So are those in Kimanis. It is good to have all these gas-powered plants because they can eventually replace all of SESB's power plants which run on diesel.

However, consumers are still paying high electricity tariffs while the IPPs are enjoying much lower tariffs, courtesy of SESB.

3. Sabah does not produce coal and relies on imports from Sarawak, Kalimantan or even Australia. The coal, especially from Kalimantan, has a high sulphur content. For coal-fired power plants, it is not recommended for coal which contains more than one percent of sulphur to be used because of high operating costs.

At least two stages of treatment are needed to remove the sulphur dioxide and the final stage, which is called the ‘scrubber’ is a very expensive one. No matter how good your system is, if the plant does not use chemicals to reduce the sulphur dioxide, the coal will be useless.

4. Our Department of Environment (DOE) does not carry out its duties in an efficient manner. The discharge of sulphur dioxide is not monitored constantly by the DOE because the power plants’ flue gas discharge is not linked to DOE’s system.

Our system is sorely lacking unlike in Western countries and even China, where all power plants’ flue gas discharge is linked for online monitoring to ensure that all power plants comply with existing requirements. Of course, our power plants have less regulations to worry about!

5. The power supply to the east coast is sufficient. There is no need for a coal-fired power plant. The only problem is that the grid system is not stable and IPPs generate at a lower capacity because of over-supply and there is no extra demand of power.

6. Sabah is rich in natural gas. Why are gas-powered plants not set up in the east coast? Liquefied natural gas (LNG) can be used. Previously, there was a company willing to set up a LNG plant and supply power to Sabah.

However, Petronas was not willing to offer LNG to IPPs at a lower price, unlike what is being done in West Malaysia.

7. Coal-powered plants produce a very fine ash. The question is, where is this fine ash being dumped? It is usually used in cement plants but the one in Sepangar Bay is a clinker plant and thus, has no use for such fine ash.

So if a coal plant is located in the east coast, a huge site may be needed in which to dump this fine ash.

Why are people are silent on these issues? How are we going to treat this fine ash? This is not a small issue that can be brushed aside or conveniently forgotten.