I question the rationale of Ministry of Green Technology, Energy and Water signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Green Power Solutions (GPS) Sdn Bhd and Current to Current (C2C) International.
According to the news report by Star today, GPS is “an expert in water related renewable energy projects in Sabah”, while C2C is a Massachusetts company in the Unitef States, will explore the possibilities of ocean renewable energy, particularly three sites which have been identified as potential viable sites, with two are the waters between Labuan and Kuala Penyu, as well as Banggi and Kudat. The third one somewhere along the straits of Malacca.
Which hydro plants are built by this company? Green Technology, Energy and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili please name those projects undertaken by GPS, how many years of experience this company gained until they could be considered as expert in this field?
Furthermore, Ramzi Raad, the Lebanese who is GPS company chairman and CEO, involves in the highly controversial geothermal power plant project in Tawau. Ramzi is the CEO of Tawau Green Energy (TGE), the company which allegedly cutting down timbers massively in the first class forest reserves, where the geothermal power plant located at.
Why does a Lebanese easily run a few renewable energy projects in the country? Is he considered as Bumiputera so that government decided to pick him up as the renewable energy tycoon under Advancing Bumiputera Agenda?
TGE remains a lot of questions unanswered to the public, e.g. status of the geothermal project, when would the first drilling of the geothermal tube well etc. The massive logging activities for TGE site clearing are highly controversial and getting attention by the public who worries over the feasibility of the project. Would a green energy project eventually converting to a first class forest reserves jungle cutting logging contract?
BN government should not agree to whatever energy project being proposed by Ramzi, until TGE open the gate at the site to let public conduct independent investigation over allegation of logging caused flooding in Tawau.
Is Ramzi so expert in energy project until all kind of projects he can manage? From extracting geothermal energy from the bottom of the earth until harvesting energy from kinetics energy in the waves and tides? I still remember that Chief Minister of Sabah has admitted in the state assembly official answer that in fact TGE is not having any experience in geothermal energy and yet they can get the approval to develop the project since anything can be outsourced. Is the GPS run by the same tycoon repeating the similar model of success?
The geothermal power plant project is estimated at RM419 million while TGE has obtained federal grant around RM40 million to build the road access for the project. A 21 years of Renewable Energy Purchasing Agreement has been signed to ensure that power generated is sold to the grid. Feed in Tariff has been pre-assigned to the TGE even though the classification of the geothermal power not yet classified under SEDA scheme.
Furthermore, local company should be promoted to take the lead in Renewable Energy development for the country. Picking up a foreigner and promoting him as renewable energy tycoon sending a wrong signal to the public.
I hope that BN political leader would echo my suggestion to let qualified and capable Sabahan company to get involved in energy project in the state, just like they have voiced out that Pan Borneo Highway construction should be engaged by local company, not even consortium based in KL. I believe any Sabahan can manage and raise the fund for renewable energy just like the Lebanese did.