Lahad Datu power station
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Lahad Datu power station is a cancelled power station in Lahad Datu, Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| Lahad Datu power station | Lahad Datu, Tawau, Sabah, Malaysia | 5.12055, 119.183357 (approximate) |
The map below shows the approximate location of the power station.
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | cancelled | coal: unknown | 75 | unknown | 2011 |
| Unit 2 | cancelled | coal: unknown | 75 | unknown | 2011 |
| Unit 3 | cancelled | coal: unknown | 75 | unknown | 2011 |
| Unit 4 | cancelled | coal: unknown | 75 | unknown | 2011 |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd [100%] | Tenaga Nasional Bhd [80.0%]; State of Sabah [20.0%] |
| Unit 2 | Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd [100%] | Tenaga Nasional Bhd [80.0%]; State of Sabah [20.0%] |
| Unit 3 | Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd [100%] | Tenaga Nasional Bhd [80.0%]; State of Sabah [20.0%] |
| Unit 4 | Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd [100%] | Tenaga Nasional Bhd [80.0%]; State of Sabah [20.0%] |
Background
The proposal was rejected by the government of Sabah in 2008, but in mid-2010 Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd was lobbying for its approval once more.[1]
In 2011, the project was scrapped as a coal plant, and gas was considered instead.[2]
Status of Development
The USGS states that in 2008 the state government of Sabah cancelled approval for the project "because the proposed plant would be located near the protected rainforest area."[3]
An April 2008 media statement by Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd complained that with "the cancellation of the project, the people of Sabah will have to face the inevitability of a power crisis situation ... While TNB fully understands the decision by the Sabah State Government is made due to the pressure from various NGOs, environmentalists and other interested parties, we would like to clarify to the people of Sabah that much of the claims made by opponents of the project do not comprehend the gravity of the power supply situation in the State. Nor have the project's nay-sayers communicated to the people the true picture of the project site and its allegedly destructive environmental impact on the green field and pristine area surrounding the Darvel Bay."[4]
In its statement, Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd argued that "the current technology for renewable energy can only supply capacities of around 1MW per plant, whereas immediate supply-demand requirements of Sabah is about 200 MW as at end of 2010. Hence it would be very prudent and appropriate to go for the fossil fuel technology, i.e. steam generating sets at 4 x 80MW to meet the short-to-medium term requirements."[4]
SESB also claimed that the plant would employ "clean coal" technology. "TNB is also fully aware of the controversial view towards coal as a resource. As a national utility company, what we can do to respond towards this is to employ the technologies available that can support the plans for plant development. This is why we made the effort to require clean coal technology in the generation methods for this plant. Clean coal technology is the name used to describe technologies for improvement of efficiency and environmental acceptability of coal extraction, preparation and use. In Malaysia, the technology has been used in our own Stesen Janakuasa Sultan Azlan Shah (SJSAS) at Manjung, Perak," it stated.[4]
In July 2010, it was announced that the fight against the plant was continuing, and that the Malaysian government was continuing to pursue the development of the plant. In the spring of 2010, several organizations in Borneo joined efforts with the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory (RAEL) at the University of California Berkeley to publish a report that showed how the island could fulfill its energy needs with clean, renewable energy. It was noted that despite the report, the Malaysian government was attempting to expedite the plant's construction.[5]
In February 2011, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman announced that plans to build a coal plant were being abandoned; instead, the government said it would seek to pursue gas.[2]
Citizens groups opposing coal-fired power stations
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ "EIA on controversial coal-fired plant ready soon", Free Malaysia Today, April 28, 2010.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Sabah cancels Lahad Datu coal power plant," Malaysian Insider, February 16, 2011.
- ↑ Pui-Kwan Tse, "The Mineral Industry of Malaysia", U.S. Geological Survey, April 2010.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd, "TNB responds to the cancellation of the Lahad Datu", Media Release, April 18, 2008.
- ↑ "Coal Power Plant Planned In World's Worst Possible Location" Jamie Henn, Alternet.org, July 14, 2010.
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
