Speech by Penang Chief Minister and Chair Of The Penang Green Council(PGC) Lim Guan Eng at the Penang Mini Green Expo- Conserving for Tomorrow – Solar Chapter, at 1st Avenue on December 17, 2011, 12 pm
Independent Power Producers or IPPs Should Be Forced To Contribute RM1 Billion Annually To The Renewable Energy(RE) Fund To Develop Solar Energy And Ensure That All Malaysians Can Become Nano-IPPs.
Thank you for inviting me to officiate the opening of the Penang Mini Green Expo themed “Conserving for Tomorrow – Solar Chapter” and Penang Green School Award Presentation Ceremony today. I am pleased to see so many participants with great interest in exploring issues on climate change, carbon reduction and solar energy.
In collaboration with the Penang State Government, the Penang Green Council will be organizing the “Penang Mini Green Expo” on 17 and 18 December 2011 from 11 am to 9 pm. This fair represents the culmination of the hard work by the Penang Green Council (PGC) over the last two and a half months under the able leadership of PGC General Manager Thing Siew Shuen.
The objectives of this educational expo are to introduce the vision and mission of the Penang Green Council that was set up by the Penang State Government in Oct 2011, to create awareness amongst the general public on the importance of utilizing resources in a sustainable way. We also wish to introduce solar power as one of the key sources of renewable energy, and to promote our main exhibition – “Conserving for Tomorrow – Full Chapter” in September 2012.
To transform Penang into an international and intelligent city, we must rebrand Penang as being synonymous with quality, reliability, safety, sustainability and integrity. We must not only be a location of choice for investors and destination of choice for tourists but also a habitat of choice for those residents who desire sustainable living. Sustainable development that allows resources to be utilized today in a manner that will be still be available tomorrow.
In Penang, we have introduced many programs that promotes low carbon lifestyle. The Car-Free Day that just kicked off last Sunday is one of our efforts in reducing carbon emission and a healthy lifestyle. So is increasing the number of public parks. The BEST bus and CAT bus services subsidized by state government have not only helped the travelers but also reducing individual vehicles travelling on the road.
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And of course our famous “No Free Plastic Bags and 3R”, the only state in Malaysia to do so that was launched in 2009. Since this green initiative began, we noticed that the volume of disposable waste has reduced by nearly 10%.
In 2007, 696,743 metric tons of waste was disposed off in Penang. The volume of disposed waste was reduced to 645,019 metric tons in 2009 and followed by a further reduction to 639,743 metric tons in 2010. This year, Penang achieved recycling rate at 23.8% which exceeds the target set by the Federal government( 22% ) for 2020. This means we are nine years ahead of time.
It is just not saving the cost of waste management and extending the lifespan of the landfill at Pulau Burung, we also managed to raise the awareness on 3Rs(Reduce, reuse and recycling) among the people.
In this Mini Green Expo, 15 exhibitors comprising government agencies, non-governmental organizations and private sector companies have taken part in this event. Powercom Co. Ltd. from Taiwan will exhibit information on the past, present and future of solar (photovoltaic) energy. Volunteers from University of Science Malaysia will show the carbon output from activities in our daily lives and its contribution to climate change.
One of the main focuses of this Mini Green Expo is solar energy. Since the Federal government implemented Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) beginning 1 December 2011, we need to encourage the utilization of renewable energy. The irradiance or sunlight exposure in Penang is the No.2 highest in Malaysia and we should be take advantange of the feed-in tariff programme to generate solar energy to be sold back to TNB like any IPP.
Unfortunately the Renewable Energy Fund is inadequate as it is only RM 300 million from the 1% levy on consumption of more than 300kwh or electricity bills more than RM 77 per month. Assuming an installed capacity of 3 kW only 2,217 households can benefit. With 1kW installed capacity only 6,651 households benefit. Only 6,651 household throughout Malaysia are qualified and available and only from 2013?
This is grossly insufficient. The Renewable Energy Fund must be increased from the present RM 300 million by at least another RM1 billion. The time has come for Independent Power Producers or IPPs to plough back their billions of ringgit in annual profits and contribute back to society with RM 1 billion annually to the RE Fund to help develop solar and renewable energy as alternative energy sources. After all if IPPs can benefit nearly RM20 billion from gas subsidies what is RM1 billion to allow all Malaysians to use solar energy and become a nano-IPP by selling back solar energy generated to TNB.
Nevertheless, my opinion is that the quota for solar, which accounts for 50MW of the 190 MW or 26% of the entire quota for renewable energy for 2011/2012 is inadequate as the entire quota for solar have been taken up except for some insignificant capacity allocated for individuals. Taking cognisance of the overwhelming response for FIT for solar, I would like to urge SEDA to increase the quota, so that we could expedite the achievement of ‘grid-parity’, thus making renewable energy the way of life.
Today, the state government will also be presenting Penang Green Schools Award to four schools. Congratulations to SMK Dato Onn, SJK(C)True Light , SMK Methodist Girls’ School, SJK(C) Perempuan China which has entered the final stage. I understand that our judges had difficulties in selecting the Excellent Green School this year, because they are equally outstanding. I am sure that all of you must be very impressed with the achievements of the four schools through their presentation this morning. We thank Ivory Properties Group Berhad, Continental Automotive Components Malaysia Sdn. Bhd, Sunshine Wholesale Mart Sdn Bhd, Popular and ICT KOMTAR Digital Mall for your support in this program.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who involved in organizing this expo within such a short preparation period. We also want to say “thank you” to exhibitors from solar and green industries players such as G-Solar Sdn. Bhd, Robert Bosch (SEA) Pte Ltd – Solar Energy Division, Green Age Solar Technology Sdn. Bhd, Sustainable Biofuels Malaysia Sdn. Bhd, Shence Greentech Sdn. Bhd, OSRAM OPTO SEMI CONDUCTORS (M) Sdn. Bhd, Return 2 Green Sdn Bhd and so on. We would like to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude for sponsors of the Penang Mini Green Expo 2011, they are 1st Avenue Shopping Mall, IJM Land, Magic Kitchen, Carrefour, PP Exhibition Booth Sdn Bhd, Robert Bosch (SEA) Pte Ltd – Solar Energy Division, ICT KOMTAR Digital Mall and MATE Automation (M) Sdn Bhd.
We also want to thank supportive exhibitors from government agencies, solar and green industries players such as G-Solar Sdn. Bhd, Robert Bosch (SEA) Pte Ltd – Solar Energy Division, Green Age Solar Technology Sdn. Bhd, Sustainable Biofuels Malaysia Sdn. Bhd, Shence Greentech Sdn. Bhd, OSRAM OPTO SEMI CONDUCTORS (M) Sdn. Bhd, Return 2 Green Sdn Bhd and so on. We would like to express our sincere gratitude for sponsors of the Penang Mini Green Expo 2011, they are 1st Avenue Shopping Mall, IJM Land, Magic Kitchen, Carrefour, PP Exhibition Booth Sdn Bhd, Robert Bosch (SEA) Pte Ltd – Solar Energy Division, ICT KOMTAR Digital Mall and MATE Automation (M) Sdn Bhd.
Let us share knowledge and work together to move towards a sustainable, low carbon and resource efficient future. I am confident that together we can make Penang the first green state in Malaysia so that our future generation can live in a better world than us. Remember we do not inherit the earth, but only borrow it from our children. It is our duty and responsibility to return it back to them cleaner, greener and safer.
—– Mandarin Translation —-
槟州首长林冠英兼槟州环保促进会主席在槟州迷你绿色博览会“节约为未来，太阳能篇”致词重点：
独立发电厂应被强制每年贡献10亿令吉予再生能源基金以发展太阳能，确保所有大马国民都能成为纳米独立发电厂。
槟州政府在今年10月成立槟州环保促进会，旨在提高市民利用持续资源的重要的认识，并推广太阳能发电。
槟城要转型为国际和智能城市，必须重新定位。我们不仅要成为投资者和游客的首选，但要市民有持续发展的生活态度。
我们推出了许多方案促进低碳生活方式，包括上周日开始的无车日，州政府资助的BEST巴士和免费CAT巴士不仅为游客服务，也减少了公路上的车辆。 我们也是全国唯一执行天天无免费塑胶袋和3R的州属，从2009年开始，我们发现用后即丢的垃圾减少了近10%。
槟州在2007年的垃圾达6万9千6743吨，2009年减少到6万4千5019吨，2010年下跌到6万3千9743吨。今年，槟城回收率达到23.8％，超过联邦政府定下2020年22％的目标。这意味着我们提前了9年。
这个迷你绿色博览会有15个参展商，包括政府机构、非政府组织和私人公司，来自台湾的Powercom有限公司将展出太阳光电过去、现在和未来的资讯，理大志工将展出我们日常生活中排放的碳排。
太阳能是博览会的焦点之一。联邦政府于今年12月1日落实电力收购制度（FIT），我们鼓励大家利用再生能源。槟城的日光是全马第二高，我们应该善用FIT产电后，如独立发电厂一样卖电给国能。
只有3亿令吉的再生能源基金是不够的，这基金只向用电超过300千瓦（KW)或每月电费超过77令吉的用户征收多1%费用。假设只有安装3千瓦太阳光电板的2217住户受惠， 或安装1千瓦电光板的6651住户受惠，难道从2013年开始，全国还有6651住户有资格和能力安装？
这显然严重不足，再生能源基金至少要增加多10亿令吉，是时候获取巨大利润的独立发电商度每年回馈再生能源基金10亿令吉，帮助太阳能和再生能源的发展。独立发电厂从天然气补贴受益200亿令吉，拨出区区10亿令吉让全马人受惠是应该的。
我认为，太阳能2011/2012年的固打分配，即190兆瓦中只占50兆瓦或26%是不够的，有鉴于FTI计划反应热烈，我促请大马永续能源机构增加配额，使我们能够加快实现“平价电网”
恭喜拿督翁中学、真光小学、SMK Methodist Girls’ School、槟华女中获得槟城绿色学校奖，感谢 Ivory Properties Group Berhad, Continental Automotive Components Malaysia Sdn. Bhd, Sunshine Wholesale Mart Sdn Bhd, Popular and ICT KOMTAR Digital Mall 的赞助。
让我们共同分享知识，携手迈向一个可持续发展，低碳和资源节约的未来。我深信，我们能够打造槟城为全马第一绿州，让下一代的世界更美好。请记得，我们不是地球继承人，我们是向孩子预借，我们有责任和义务恢复地球的清洁、环保和安全。