Govt yet to receive proposal for cleanfuel technology plant

KOTA KINABALU: The issue of the proposal to use clean-fuel technology to generate and supply power in Tawau does not arise because it has not been presented to the state government.

Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun said this to reporters yesterday.

He was referring to the plans by a private firm which intends to build a multi-billion ringgit plant using clean-fuel technology as an option for addressing power shortages in Sabah.

According to the report from a news portal, the company, Afmaco Energy Bhd, claims it can utilise clean-fuel technology to generate power and supply it, with lignite, also known as surface coal, as the raw material.

“I am not aware of it (the plan), and to me the issue does not arise because it has not been presented to the state government,” he said.

Asked if he is aware that the company had already spoken to Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB), Masidi said speaking to SESB and approval from the state government are two different things.

Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Maximus Ongkili on Monday said he was open to Sabah sourcing energy generated by coal, as long as the plant supplying the power is not in the state.

However, Maximus said his ministry had yet to receive any formal report or application from the company.

“We are not fully informed yet. This has been thrown in the media but there is a proposal to import power from Kalimantan Utara, but this is outside of the boundary of Sabah,” he said to reporters after launching SESB open day.