Proposed refinery not coal-fired – firm
Aware of public concern over its inten on to set up a Clean Fuel Refinery Complex (CFRC) at Pasir Pu h, Kalabakan, Afmaco Energy Berhad (Afmaco) has clarified that the CFRC is not a coal-fired plant.
TAWAU: Aware of public concern over its intention to set up a Clean Fuel Refinery Complex (CFRC) at Pasir Putih, Kalabakan, Afmaco Energy Berhad (Afmaco) has clarified that the CFRC is not a coal-fired plant but a clean fuel refinery which produces valuable fuel products that can be used in many industries.
Afmaco CEO, Ahmad Faizul Mohamed Alwi, said, the public should know that the CFRC is zerowaste compared to conventional coal-fired power plant.
He said, the CFRC refining technology addresses all the harmful and volatile elements from the lignite before it is turned into semi coke and combusted.
“Through the CFRC refining technology, which is divided into three processing phases, the volatile substances or harmful element will be converted and broken down into marketable products such as naphtha gasoline, tar, diesel oil, liquefied natural gas, nitrogen and sulphur. The lignite is then further refined into semi-coke which will then be combusted for electricity generation,” he said, when met in Tawau yesterday.
All these processes are done in a closed system to prevent any volatile substances from being released into the environment, he added.
He said, the public have to understand that the company is using a new technology which is already proven and running in other developed countries to eliminate all harmful elements.
“The CFRC will be producing naphtha gasoline for industrial fuel, tar for industrial use, light diesel oil for industrial fuel, liquefied natural gas (LNG) for electricity generation, nitrogen for our fertilizer manufacturing process, and sulphur for our gypsum manufacturing process. Thus, since electricity can be produced, the company is offering electricity generation,” he clarified.
He said, through this advancement in technology, the CFRC will own a water treatment plant at the site for cooling purposes and thus eliminate the use of sea water and contaminating the surrounding waters.
“The best of all is that it is smoke-free and ash-free. That is why it is called a refinery, meaning that the lignite will be refined and what is left behind is pure carbon (semi-coke) to generate power,” he said.
For public knowledge, semicoke is defined as the solid residue obtained by carbonization, especially of coal, at a relatively low temperature (of below 700 deg C) and is generally softer and more friable than coke from carbonization at higher temperature, and gives a hot smokeless fire that can be used as a domestic fuel.
Faizul said, the environmental impact assessment (EIA) will be conducted soon and any further queries on the pollution factors will be answered in detail then.
“We hope the public will consider and understand the technology involved and accept our proposal which will benefit the people of Tawau and Sabah at large,” he said.