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Energy-Climate & Environment

NDR 2019: Climate change one of the ‘gravest challenges facing mankind’, impact on Singapore to worsen, says PM Lee Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/ndr-2019-climate-change-impact-singapore-greatest-threat-sea-11819382

18 August 2019

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Singapore

SINGAPORE: Climate change is one of the gravest challenges the human race faces and Singapore is already feeling its impact – which is likely to worsen over the next few decades, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday (Aug 18).

“Climate change may seem abstract and distant for many of us, but it is one of the gravest challenges facing humankind,” said Mr Lee in his National Day Rally speech.

The Earth’s average temperature has increased by 1 degree Celsius compared to pre-industrial times over 100 years ago, pointed out Mr Lee.

This is a result of more carbon dioxide pumped into the atmosphere due to of human activity. The gas builds up, traps heat from the sun, causing the planet to warm up.

“One degree Celsius doesn’t sound like much, but it is very significant,” Mr Lee said. “Furthermore, temperatures are continuing to rise, faster and faster.”

READ: NDR 2019: It could cost S$100 billion or more to protect Singapore against rising sea levels, PM Lee says

Global warming has resulted in the weather becoming more extreme, added Mr Lee, with droughts getting more severe and prolonged. At the other end of the spectrum, rainfall and storms are becoming more intense.

He explained: “Singapore is already feeling the impact. Our weather is palpably hotter. Rainstorms are heavier and this will very likely worsen over the next few decades, within the lifetimes of many of us.”

According to a recent Swiss study, by 2050, several cities in the world will experience “unprecedented” climate shifts, added Mr Lee.

Singapore is one of these cities.

THE GRAVE THREAT OF RISING SEA LEVELS

Rising temperatures are also causing ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica to melt – leading to rising sea levels. Singapore is “especially vulnerable” to this given that it is a low-lying island, said Mr Lee.

The United Nations currently projects that sea levels will rise by up to 1m by the end of the century, but scientists’ estimates have been going up, and sea levels may quite possibly rise higher and faster than that, added Mr Lee.

READ: ‘Time is running out’: Tackling climate change a priority for Singapore, says Masagos

Singapore used to face floods in the 1960s and 1970s, especially during the rainy season but these flooding problems are now “largely resolved”, said Mr Lee.

This is because the drainage system has been improved and buildings were required to be built on higher platforms, at least 3m above mean sea level.

As the water can be as high as 2m above sea level during high tide, this leaves a 1m buffer to cope with weather events like heavy rain.

But with global warming, if sea levels rise by 1m, and when it is high tide, there will be no buffer, said Mr Lee.

He added: “If the heavy rain coincides with a high tide, the water will have nowhere to go. We will be, literally, in deep water.”

READ: NDR 2019: Singapore will be ‘principled’ in approach to China-US trade dispute; ready to help workers

A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH

In order to understand what climate change means for Singapore, the Government has set up the Centre for Climate Research Singapore (CCRS), said Mr Lee.

“CCRS is cooperating with their counterparts in neighbouring countries to study in more detail how climate change is affecting Southeast Asia,” he explained. “They are finding that Singapore, being near the equator, is more vulnerable to climate change than the global model suggests.”

In order to mitigate climate change, Singapore has and will continue to do its part in reducing carbon dioxide emissions, added PM Lee.

For example, Singapore is part of the Paris Climate Agreement and has committed to slow down as well as cap carbon dioxide emissions by around 2030.

Individual Singaporeans also have a role to play by reducing waste and being sustainable in their daily habits, stressed PM Lee.

“Although Singapore may not be able to stop climate change by ourselves, we can contribute to solutions, and we must do our fair share,” he added.

Singapore will also need to adapt to climate change – localised measures have been put in place to protect individual buildings and developments.

For one, new developments are required to be built at least 4m above mean sea level, and this requirement is even higher for critical infrastructure as Tuas Port and Changi Airport terminal 5, said Mr Lee.

READ: National Day Rally 2019: From retirement age to climate change, here are 9 things you need to know

The building of a second pump house at the Marina Barrage has also been planned, while the options to reclaim a series of islands from Marina East to Changi as well as build polders will be considered.

Ultimately, Singapore should treat climate change defences with “utmost seriousness” said Mr Lee.

“Both the SAF (Singapore Armed Forces) and climate change defences are existential for us. These are life and death matters,” he stressed. “Everything else must bend at the knee to safeguard the existence of our island nation.

“With the SAF, we hope never to go to war … But with climate change, we know for sure sea levels will rise. And the only uncertainty is whether they rise a few decades earlier, or a few decades later.”

Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/ndr-2019-climate-change-impact-singapore-greatest-threat-sea-11819382

Renewables

BSP to convert headquarters to solar power

18 August 2019

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Brunei Darussalam

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) will soon convert its headquarters in Seria from gas to solar power.BSP Managing Director Dr Ceri Powell said the company is investing millions to build a new solar park close to its headquarters, which currently houses 1,400 staff.

“[This is] land that we’ve used for housing before. The houses have been demolished, so we have perfect flat land for building solar park,” she said on the sidelines of a recent youth dialogue on climate change.

Powell added that the 3 MW solar-powered headquarters should come to pass in the next 18 months.

“It is a very significant investment by BSP. Multi millions of dollars of investment in renewable energies,” she said.

As outlined in the Energy White Paper, Brunei’s goal is to increase the share of renewable energy to 10 percent of the country’s total power generation mix by 2035.

The vast majority of the country’s electricity is generated by gas-powered plants, which make up 50 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. The oil and gas industry contributes around 35 percent of emissions.

The Ministry of Energy, Manpower and Industry (MEMI) also recently called for proposals from interested parties to build and operate a 30 MW solar power plant in Kampung Sungai Akar.

Powell said the move would mark a “significant step in the renewable solar journey of Brunei”.

She added that even as Brunei aims to diversify its economy, oil and gas will remain an important industry in the sultanate.

“BSP is of course about mature oil and gas production, but it is also about finding new hydrocarbons. I’m very excited to say even in the last three months, we’ve found new oil and gas offshore in Brunei.”“We won’t say precisely where… but new oil and gas is offshore in Brunei which will add to the future oil and gas resources for the nation.”

According to MEMI, Brunei’s energy needs are expected to increase by three percent per annum over the next 10 years, from 3,900 GWh in 2019 to 5,300 GWh in 2029.

Others

‘Murang Kuryente Act’ to lower electricity rates in next few months

16 August 2019

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Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — The newly-signed “Murang Kuryente Act” will lower consumers’ electricity rates by October or November this year, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian said on Friday.

“It will be seen probably on the fourth quarter of this year, October or November but the deadline is 90 days,” Gatchalian, chairman of Senate committee on energy, told ABS-CBN News Early Edition when asked on the expected implementation of the decrease in cost of electricity.

Gatchalian explained that the law will help save cost of electricity at about P172 to P190 per month which helps families to have huge savings.

“In a nutshell, we’ll be saving up to 90 centavos per kilowatt hour. So for an ordinary consumer consuming about 200 kilowatt every month, he will save approximately about 172.00 to about 190.00 per month so that’s good for about 4-5 kilos of rice for an ordinary family. This is actually huge savings for an ordinary family,” the senator said.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed on Aug. 8 the Republic Act 11371 or the “Murang Kuryente Act” which aims to source government shares on Malampaya fund to pay the debts of the National Power Corporation which is now being charged to consumers as seen in their monthly electricity bill. /jpv

Renewables

Deputy PM: Việt Nam encourages renewable energy development

16 August 2019

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Vietnam

HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister Trịnh Đình Dũng has stated the Vietnamese Government always encourages the development and effective use of renewable energy, towards sustainable socio-economic development.

During a reception in Hà Nội on Thursday for General Director of Norway’s Scatec Solar company Raymond Carlsen, Deputy PM Dũng said the country needs an estimated 90,000MW of electricity by 2025 and around 130,000MW by 2030, he said, adding the current main sources of power for Việt Nam are still thermal and hydropower, accounting for 40 per cent of total output.

However, the potential of those sources has dropped, hence the Government’s policy to encourage renewable energy through solar and wind power.

Expressing support for Scatec Solar’s solar power project, the Deputy PM wished the company would promote partnership with Vietnamese counterparts and invest in technological products for the industry.

The Deputy PM asked the company to hold working sessions with Vietnamese ministries and agencies on issues regarding project approval.

Carlsen said Scatec Solar has experience in helping developing countries implement renewable energy projects, which is an advantage.

He added that his company plans to invest in the Trị An floating solar power plant in the southern province of Đồng Nai with a total capacity of 1,000MW, as well as develop a system to produce solar panels for export.

It is also connecting with Vietnamese universities to make it easier for students to get internship in the company’s factories. — VNS

Read more at http://vietnamnews.vn/politics-laws/524094/deputy-pm-viet-nam-encourages-renewable-energy-development.html#sCAoQZDDMcv58vQU.99

Eco Friendly Vehicle

Electric car sharing firm BlueSG looks to move into OOH ad space

16 August 2019

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Singapore

Electric car sharing company BlueSG is working with sister company Havas Group. Havas Group’s OOH brand AdCity will act as a consultant for BlueSG, which is open to be used as an OOH ad platform, and has a fleet of 470 cars in Singapore. Currently, BlueSG has 220 self-service stations located in public housing, city center and commercial estates around Singapore. By end 2020, the company aims to have 500 stations island-wide and 1,000 cars.

Launched two years ago in Singapore, BlueSG is a subsidiary of the French transportation company Bolloré Group. Both Bolloré and Havas are in the Vivendi family of companies.

Jenny Lim, commercial and network director from BlueSG said its business value-proposition is rooted in addressing environmental concerns through sustainability and a sharing economy. With this initiative, the company looks to take a step further to create a unique opportunity for marketers to associate their brands with zero-emission mobility, enhancing citizens’ life quality in sync with Singapore’s vision to be a Smart City.

According to Franck Vidal, Asia Pacific director at Havas-Adcity, vehicle advertising is one of the most effective forms of advertising with a “tremendous” reach.

“BlueSG’s presence in highly concentrated in HDBs estates, where creative touchpoints are often missing, provides a suitable opportunity for brands to connect with their relevant target audiences, meaningfully. We are looking forward to spread the message around sustainability and making a meaningful difference to brands and society at large by working with BlueSG,” he said.

To commemorate National Day, BlueSG showed its pride by designing its cars themed to the nation’s birthday. On its Facebook page, BlueSG encouraged the public to participate in its National Day promotion by sharing a picture with its National-Day themed cars on the roads.

Others

New subsidies aimed at poor folk, farmers

16 August 2019

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Thailand

The government plans to launch new stimulus measures for low-income earners and farmers in the form of energy price subsidies and cheap fertiliser, says Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak.

These measures will be included on the state welfare smartcard to provide the subsidy directly to holders.

Mr Somkid told Energy Ministry officials that lower-income citizens and farmers should have higher purchasing power through smartcards to help with the cost of living.

The current subsidies for energy prices, consisting of 230 baht per month for power bills and 45 baht every three months for cooking gas, will expire at the end of September.

The new measures include a discount for compressed natural gas and cooking gas for food vendors and hawkers, while the current subsidies will be extended.

“Further details will be concluded very soon by all relevant state agencies,” Mr Somkid said.

He also ordered PTT Plc, the national oil and gas conglomerate, to accelerate commercial production of tailor-made organic fertiliser, which has been successfully tested by PTT researchers.

The laboratory process is conducted by Vidyasirimedhi Institute of Science and Technology, PTT’s educational institution in Rayong province’s Wang Chan Valley.

“Fertiliser is a major cost for farmers,” Mr Somkid said.

PTT also collaborated with the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry to develop the fertiliser formula to be suitable for many crops and fruits, and to benefit the soil in different regions.

PTT had the soft launch for organic fertiliser in March, but the final stage of the formula is still being tested in the laboratory.

Commercial distribution has not begun.

Mr Somkid said PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc (PTTOR) has been told to allocate space in petrol stations to be the distribution channel for fertiliser products.

PTTOR initiated the Thai Ded Project to support local crops, fruits and other products at the provincial level to be sold at PTT petrol stations.

The project aims to tap 100 stations by 2019.

Separately, talks for the Thai-Cambodia Overlapping Claims Area (OCA) for offshore gas blocks in the Gulf of Thailand should be resumed in order to accelerate new gas resources of the two countries, Mr Somkid said.

The OCA was claimed in 1973, but the two parties have yet to break through in their negotiations.

In addition, Mr Somkid said the government aims to push Thailand to become the leader of Southeast Asia’s electricity trade by upgrading high-voltage transmission lines nationwide in order to ease power distribution from Laos to Malaysia and Myanmar.

“Thailand is the highest-potential location to facilitate the power trade across the region, but the current situation lacks suitable infrastructure,” he said.

Renewables

Batan to cooperate with Indonesian power company

16 August 2019

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Indonesia

The MoU was signed yesterday in Ancol, North Jakarta, by the head of Batan, Anhar Riza Antariksawan, and the acting director of Indonesia Power, Ahsin Sidqi.

The scope of the cooperation covered by the MoU includes a feasibility study on the use of nuclear energy for power plants, as well as the potential use of thorium, uranium and other radioisotopes in batteries. The agreement also calls for cooperation on human resources development, the exchange of data and information, organising scientific meetings, and the use of each other’s facilities and infrastructure.

Prior to signing the agreement, Ahsin said: “This afternoon, Indonesia Power will have an MoU with Batan to prepare for research into the first nuclear power plant in Indonesia, as well as the development of nuclear batteries with Batan. So that in the future, Indonesia Power will not only be an electricity company, but also an energy company.”

Batan launched a plan in 2014 to build a 10 MWt Experimental Power Reactor (Reaktor Daya Eksperimental, RDE) at its largest research centre site – the Puspiptek Complex, in Serpong, South Tangerang, Banten – as a first strategic milestone for the introduction of large-scale nuclear power plant fleets into the country. The RDE is a domestically-designed, very small-sized pebble-bed high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) with low-enriched uranium oxide TRISO fuel.

In March 2018, Batan launched a roadmap for developing a detailed engineering design for the RDE. The roadmap is a continuation of the RDE basic engineering design, which was completed in 2017. The detailed engineering design document, together with the safety analysis report, will be an important requirement for Batan to achieve approval for the RDE design from the Indonesia’s Nuclear Energy Regulatory Agency.

Batan is promoting the introduction of nuclear power plants in Indonesia to help meet the county’s demand for power. It envisages the start-up of conventional large light-water reactors on the populous islands of Bali, Java, Madura and Sumatra from 2027 onwards. In addition, it is planning for the deployment of small HTGRs (up to 100 MWe) on Kalimantan, Sulawesi and other islands to supply power and heat for industrial use. The prototype unit is planned for West Kalimantan.

Welcoming the signing of the MoU, Anhar said: “From the results of the [feasibility] study we will determine the next step. Hopefully this MoU can be useful not only for both institutions, but for all Indonesian people.”

Eco Friendly Vehicle

MEMI aims to reach 10% electric car usage before 2035

15 August 2019

–

Brunei Darussalam

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – The Ministry of Energy, Manpower and Industry (MEMI) wants to be more aggressive in promoting electric vehicles in Brunei, aiming to reach a target of 10 percent before 2035.

The urgency to reduce greenhouse gases — as part of the country’s commitments under the Paris Agreement — is moving the issue forward, said MEMI Permanent Secretary (Energy) Hj Azhar Hj Yahya.

On the sidelines of a recent youth dialogue on climate change, the senior official said the government is still in the policy planning stage with regards to introducing electric vehicles to the country.

“Many countries have already pushed for this… However, for Brunei to execute this, we have to look at factors like infrastructure, where to install the charging points, the tax system and what type of [electric vehicles] we want to bring in,” he told The Scoop.

“Reaching 10 percent electric vehicles by 2035 is not aggressive enough, because that is still a long way to go. We want to have a more aggressive target, like reaching that 10 per cent by 2030 or maybe even earlier.”

Accessibility and affordability of electric cars will be key factors, he said, adding that it will be difficult to convince Bruneian drivers to get on board.

“Fuel is still relatively cheap in Brunei, which means there need to be other factors to entice drivers in converting to electric vehicles.”

Earlier this year, the government announced it would begin a pilot project to bring in electric vehicles, with fuel economy regulations expected to be introduced in 2023.

Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications, Hj Mohd Nazri Hj Mohd Yusof, said there will need to be public awareness campaigns to convince drivers to make the switch.

“Like it or not electric vehicles are coming. European car manufacturers are already making more of these than of normal cars.”

Recent statistics from the Land Transport Department recorded 282,345 vehicles on the road, 99 per cent of which used petrol and diesel fuel.

Approximately 1,960 hybrid and fuel-efficient cars have been registered in Brunei since 2012 — less than one percent of all vehicles on the road — but their impact has been able to save the government $1.4 million in fuel subsidies.

The transport sector accounts for approximately 12 percent of emissions in Brunei.

Under the Paris Agreement, the government has committed to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from morning peak hour traffic by 40 percent over the next 15 years.

According to a study done by Universiti Brunei Darussalam in 2011, Brunei has the highest per capita CO2 emissions in ASEAN, increasing at a rate of two percent per year.

News Clipping

READ: NDR 2019: It could cost S$100 billion or more to protect Singapore against rising sea levels, PM Lee says

READ: ‘Time is running out’: Tackling climate change a priority for Singapore, says Masagos

READ: NDR 2019: Singapore will be ‘principled’ in approach to China-US trade dispute; ready to help workers

READ: National Day Rally 2019: From retirement age to climate change, here are 9 things you need to know

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