I urge the Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water, Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Maximus Johnity Ongkili to explain what had happened to the Tawau Green Energy geothermal power plant project in Andrassy, Tawau. I further question the feasibility of the project, and whether it still can achieve it’s schedule to tap into the state power grid by June of next year, given no sign of work at all in the site.
I hope Maximus could explain more details on the matters under his ministry, namely energy, green technology and water, to the people when he is going to visit to Tawau and will have a Tawau Chinese Community Social Gathering Dinner at Ocean Area Seafood restaurant here on this coming May 18, night.
Dr. Maximus should play a prominent role in ensuring consistent energy supply and the extra reserves for future industrial development as well as the genuine Green Technology development, including the consistent water supply and health to the consumers.
The people will expect to know about what is the solution to address power woes in Sabah, particularly in Tawau. Under the 11th Malaysia Plan (2016-2020), the government has allocated RM2.3 billion to solve Sabah’s power supply problem and the Sabah’s 2017 SAIDI target is 250 minutes; yet, it missed out the target of 311.01 minutes in last year. With such huge allocation but yet to achieve the SAIDI target, what can we expect more from Maximus’s ministry?
Besides, is there any long term solution provided by the Minister to address the negative power margins in the East Coast? The people have had heard many times about the need of an anchor power plant to be built in the region, but yet the proposed 300MW power plant in Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC) Lahad Datu and the natural gas pipelines from Kimanis to Sandakan, were still in the pipelines.
Touching on Tawau Green Energy, Dr. Maximus had briefed to the media about the Malaysia’s first 30MW geothermal power plant in Apas Kiri here in August, last year and its commercial operation was said to be commenced by June 2018.
The big question is not much work progress on the proposed site from August last year to April, this year since the indicated information that provided by the state ministry in State Assembly Sitting is about the same with what has been told by Maximus during briefing for the geothermal power plant in August, last year.
I had visited the geothermal power plant site recently. A short conversation with the security guard in the main gate has alleged that no project activities has been carried out since early of this year, left only the machinery at the site, with no engineers or workers stationing there.
No workers, engineers on site, how to set to be operate in June 2018?
Would Cinta Mata Water Dam ground breaking on schedule by August 2017? Tawau folks has been waiting for the water dam construction for many years. I hope Maximus could explain clearly and in detail to the people in Tawau for this coming visit.