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Others

26 October 2019

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Malaysia

Notwithstanding the current cooler spell, Malaysia is hotter than ever before, and the trend shows no signs of reversing to the temperatures enjoyed by Malaysians over the last few decades.

This fact was also acknowledged by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in his speech at the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York last month.

He had urged the global community to pay serious attention to combating extreme climate change. He also highlighted the importance of survival initiatives, such as alternative shelter and food production, in case of a calamity.

Indeed, a majority of countries are experiencing the drastic effects of climate change, as evident from UNGA where almost all leaders brought up the issue.

Most climate scientists agree that human activity is the leading cause of global warming, which in turn triggers climate change. Previously, the natural emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) was the most significant factor in global warming as it formed the largest concentration in the Earth’s atmosphere compared with other greenhouse gases (GHG).

However, human activity stemming from industry, energy production, transportation using carbon-based fuels, and the sum of agricultural activities, food production, land-use and forestry now contribute up to 29 per cent (i.e. more than one-fourth) of the total global GHG emissions.

In this regard, the world needs to shift its attention to sustainable resource management and development practices to curb climate issues.

The transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy has taken place in many developed and developing nations, reducing their carbon footprint.

Among the progressive measures has been the increase in facilities for renewable energy, including solar farms, wind turbines, biomass and hydroelectric plants — creating a sustainable “energy mix” ecosystem. In addition, “energy efficiency” and “energy conservation” practices were also introduced.

Energy efficiency requires consumers to invest in equipment that can operate with less energy for the same or more load, while energy conservation requires consumers to reduce the use of electrical appliances.

These measures can save natural resources from depletion, keep the environment free from pollution, and save some money in the long run.

The best environmentally friendly activities include the 3R practice of “reduce, reuse, and recycle”. Some might extend this idea up to seven (7R) in a circular flow — rethink, refuse, reduce, repurpose, reuse, recycle and rot.

These ideas are commonly applied to daily products or consumables, but the concept can also be applied to other human activities such as transportation. For instance, first, we should rethink whether or not it is necessary to drive fast and recklessly. Driving fast will consume more fuel, release more carbon and might put other people at risk. As a result, the second step would be to refuse to make it a practice.

Third, we should reduce our driving activity by prioritising what is important or at least make the most out of a single trip by accomplishing multiple tasks. Additionally, instead of using a car for a single purpose, a car-sharing practice will make better use of its capacity; this can be considered as repurposing or reusing.

This, in turn, will reduce traffic congestion and pollution, while adding value to the car owner. Finally, as the car reaches a certain mileage, we must plan whether to restore, sell or recycle the vehicle.

Ideally, the process of managing resources will form a closed-loop system; this circularity is aimed at eliminating waste and promoting the continual use of resources — a model known as the circular economy. Unlike the traditional linear economy with the “take, make and dispose” approach that lets waste end up in landfills, the circular economy adopts the “regenerative” approach where “all waste should be food for another process”, inspired from the natural system.

It will mainly involve “reuse, remanufacturing, and recycling” processes. According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation paper, “Completing the Picture: How the Circular Economy Tackles Climate Change”, switching to renewable energy could cut GHG by 55 per cent, and the circular economy could reduce the remaining 45 per cent emissions mainly from the making of products and food production.

In Muslim countries, the concept of the circular economy has been a subject of rigorous discussion especially by those in the Islamic finance circle. Several Islamic concepts in relation to managing resources and the ecology, such as mizan (universal balance), miqdar (proportion), khalifah (stewardship) and maqasid (purposeful use) are supportive of the circular approach.

These Islamic principles can serve as catalysts, among others, to encourage the Muslim community to live in a sustainable system, thus contributing to the efforts to address the climate issue at the global level.

Energy-Climate & Environment

Young Thais battle seniority culture to raise climate awareness

25 October 2019

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Thailand

BANGKOK (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – When Nanticha “Lynn” Ocharoenchai organized Thailand’s first climate strike in March, more than half of the 50 people who showed up at the rally in Bangkok were students at international schools and expatriates.

The same day, Ralyn “Lilly” Satidtanasarn, then aged 11, and a group of fellow pupils submitted an open letter to the prime minister, calling for urgent action on climate change.

“The fact that Lilly and I can do this draws a lot from being in international schools,” said 21-year-old Lynn.

There they received classes on the environment, whereas most Thai state schools do not teach the subject, Lynn noted in an interview a week after graduating from Chulalongkorn University.

The young pair are often said to be Thailand’s version of Greta Thunberg, the teenage Swedish activist who has inspired other children worldwide to skip school and demonstrate in the streets about the need to halt global warming and its impacts.

Lynn’s mission is to boost awareness among the Thai public about climate change in a country that is witnessing warmer temperatures, sea-level rise, floods and droughts.

Its capital Bangkok, built on the flood-plains of the Chao Phraya River, is expected to be among the urban areas hit hardest as the climate heats up.

Nearly 40% of Bangkok may be inundated each year as soon as 2030 due to more extreme rainfall, according to the World Bank.

But while many Thais are directly experiencing the growing effects of climate change, Lynn said some Asian social norms made it hard for her to achieve her aims.

“In Asia, we have a culture of seniority, and young people aren’t supposed to speak up for themselves and are not supposed to speak against adults,” she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in a Bangkok coffee shop.

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Lynn’s interest in climate change was sparked through writing articles on the environment as a journalism intern.

In March, she read about Thunberg, which prompted her to create a Facebook event for a climate strike in Bangkok.

“I could truly relate to her frustration and depression, and just feelings of hopelessness,” said Lynn.

“For years I cried in my bedroom, and I’m sad and I’m just like, no one’s going to do anything about it. But I figured if Greta can do it… I can probably do something too,” she said.

Since she set up the Facebook page “Climate Strike Thailand”, it has attracted almost 5,000 followers.

“Initially I had no idea about Thai social media and how to deal with Thai culture and Thai people and changing their mindset, but since March I’ve learned so much,” she said.

Tara Buakamsri, Thailand director for Greenpeace Southeast Asia, said young people in provinces outside Bangkok have long campaigned on environmental issues affecting their home towns, such as opposing gold mines or coal-power plants.

But there has been no networking platform to link them with groups in the capital, and Climate Strike Thailand has yet to spread beyond middle-class and international school students, he added.

“While the recent climate strikes are connected to climate change issues (at) the international level, they have yet to connect on the local level,” said Buakamsri.

‘JUST THE BEGINNING’

Since the first March strike, Lynn has led two more in May and September.

For the third, about 200 young people marched to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, demanding that the government declare a climate emergency and shift to 100% renewable energy by 2040.

In 2015, Thailand signed the Paris climate agreement and pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20-25% by 2030, compared with 2005 levels.

But new coal-fired power plants have since been promoted both in Thailand and neighboring countries, which activists say contradicts climate change goals.

“These climate strikes are by no means methods to solve the problem,” Lynn said. “It’s just the beginning where you acknowledge the problem.”

Lilly, meanwhile, now 12, has been meeting with business and the government, urging them to care more about the environment.

Her persistence over the last two years has paid off, and she is widely credited for a pledge by more than 40 national retailers to ban plastic bags by next year.

“I see no progress made by the government,” she told journalists recently. “I only see progress made by Lynn and me.”

Energy Cooperation

RoK, Philippines enhance cooperation in renewable energy

25 October 2019

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Philippines

Seoul (VNA) – The Republic of Korea and the Philippines signed a cooperation agreement on renewable energy in Seoul on October 25.

Under the agreement, RoK businesses will participate in building renewable power generation facilities with a total capacity of 100MW at sites under the management of the Philippine defence ministry. The planned power generation facilities will run on various sources including solar, wind, water and geothermal heat.

The project aims to supply eco-friendly electricity to military-related facilities and nearby areas, helping ease power shortages in the Southeast Asian nation.

This is the first time RoK businesses have participated in a renewable energy project with a foreign army.

The agreement follows a memorandum of understanding on renewable energy cooperation signed in June last year when Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte visited Seoul./.

Others

Confronting Cambodia’s Waste Management Challenge

25 October 2019

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Cambodia

Is it finally coming to an end? For almost a decade, Phnom Penh’s City Hall and the Cambodian government have issued almost annual rebukes of the services provided by Cintri, a private-firm that in September 2002 was given an exclusive 47-year contract to manage trash collection in Phnom Penh. Each day, Phnom Penh produces about 3,000 tonnes of rubbish – 600 tonnes of which is plastic waste – yet Cintri has become something between a laughing stock and a bête noire of the capital’s residents. Former Phnom Penh governor Kep Chuktema once threatened to dump the city’s trash outside of Cintri’s headquarters if the firm didn’t improve its operations.

On Tuesday, however, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced that he had instructed the Ministry of Economy and Finance and Phnom Penh City Hall to buy out and manage Cintri. “We must acquire Cintri and all its equipment and City Hall can manage it. After the acquisition, we will manage all Cintri’s staff.”

After that, the plan is to divide the capital into four zones and then tender out contracts to four separate companies, which will each be responsible for one zone. Beyond that, the government will soon open four new landfill sites it has built at Kean Svay and Ang Snoul districts, while it also pledged to subsidize any private-sector investment in waste-to-energy sector, as long as it is local waste.

This should be rightly applauded. Cambodia, especially the capital, has long had a problem with waste. Some 35.7 percent of Phnom Penh’s poorer communities receive no waste management, according to one recent report. And much of it is to do with Cintri’s poor performance. In February 2015, the Council of Ministers, the cabinet, criticized Cintri in an open letter. “We believe and agree that Cintri lacks the ability to strengthen or extend its garbage collection and transportation operation in accordance with Phnom Penh’s expansion, even after it was given one year to improve,” it stated.

Head out in Phnom Penh at night and you’ll pity the Citri workers – who usually work at nights, so as not to further congest already congested streets. Few wear gloves or masks, despite the stench that even forces SUVs to make a wide swerve around their trucks. And all this for $159 per month.

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“Cintri provides only a green company shirt to its employees despite them regularly handling dangerous materials like glass, needles, and improperly disposed of wastes – such as sulfuric acid from batteries,” reads a report, Urban Governance Waste Management in Phnom Penh, published in January 2019, by Sahmakum Teang Tnaut, an urban NGO.

The report also revealed that 14 Cintri workers have been killed because of job-related accidents since 2015, and 380 incidents of injury since 2016, yet “family members scared to speak out about issues and no protective clothing or safety measures provided to workers in the wake of these deaths.” “CINTRI is failing its legal obligations to guarantee the safety of its workers as it is not supplying safety materials, such as protective work clothing or adequately mitigating the risks of a dangerous workplace,” the report asserted.

Enough of the applause, though. The government must provide some answers to the public. Why, given that Cintri’s services have been a laughing stock for so many years, has it taken this long for any action to be taken? The government is clearly now taking waste management seriously, since the Prime Minister waded into the issue. Yet, if, as he said, the authorities thought Cintri was performing so awfully that it needed to be nationalized, was there not the possibility to punishing or fining them first, rather than simply paying them off for poor performance?

“Letting Cintri continue [the service] is impossible. However, to avoid [the impact of] the loss of the company, the state has to spend [to make up for] it… The state must take over the company’s [responsibilities and replace the] workers and materials,” the Phnom Penh Post has him saying. Granted, in this economic climate the government doesn’t want to be seen as unfairly nationalizing private firms. But on the other hand, the message it’s sending is that a contracted company can perform terribly for years but, in the end, the government will simply buy you out. Cintri hasn’t really lost out here. The only losers have been the Cambodian people – and for far too long.

After this acquisition and before the new tendering round, there needs to be reforms. First, it no longer makes sense for a state-run electricity company to collect fees on behalf of a private rubbish-collecting firm, especially when many households are not paying the fees, and when some are paying but aren’t receiving a service. A monthly $1 fee is added to household electricity bills by Electricite du Cambodge (EdC) that goes towards household garbage collection cost. AEC News reports that fee collection is as low as 60 percent for households, and 15 percent for businesses. In 2017, the City Hall spokesperson Meas Pheakdey reportedly said it is “within the rights of citizens not to pay for services they do not deem acceptable, and it is not the government’s concern if the company is not paid.”

The government or City Hall might also consider coughing up some regular funds for trash-collection. Ensuring citizens of its capital don’t have to live in streets infested with rubbish won’t motivate the authorities, but if they consider it an investment (think of all the tourists who won’t leave with the memory of wading through flooded streets need deep in god know what) then it would be worth it.

Second, there needs to be more clarity when negotiating the new tenders. One of the main problems with Cintri was the fact that its contract was so opaque that there was an almost constant back and forth between it and City Hall over responsibilities. In 2016, Cintri called on City Hall to help it collected between $10 million and $20 million in unpaid fees, some of which dates back to the early 2000s. “According to the agreement, the company will collect, transport and clean, while the authority has the responsibility to encourage people to pay the fee,” Cintri manager, Ith Chen

Lastly, Cintri must be investigated for allegations of past misconduct. Sahmakum Teang Tnaut, in January, called for an “official investigation [led] by the Labor Inspectors and Labor Controllers and the Department of Labor Inspection” into Cintri’s safety standards, especially for workers. One feels there must also be some sort of enquiry (ideally public) into why the government and City Hall allowed the Cintri contract to run so long despite so many problems over the last decade.

However, this will be slightly complicated if the state will now be taking it over. Just as complicated (until more information arises) is whether the government wants to maintain a state-run entity when the tenders are auctioned. Speaking of tenders for the new four zones, Hun Sen said: “We will arrange for bids, which will include Cintri. Each company will be allowed to operate in only one zone.” It is unclear if he was referring to the Cintri, as a private-entity, or the soon-to-be nationalized entity. If the latter, it would certainly complicate the tendering process in a country ranked as one of the most corrupt in the world.

Others

Cambodia’s energy security woes

25 October 2019

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Cambodia

Economic growth in Cambodia is constrained by a lack of appropriate policy for electricity access and energy security. Only 50 per cent of Cambodia’s population had electricity access in 2016. Remarkably, by 2019, the number of households connected to grid electricity grew to almost 80 per cent. The challenge, however, remains for rural areas where certain remote areas have almost no electricity.

Cambodia’s Power Sector Strategy 1999–2016 focuses on household energy security. Its objectives are to provide an adequate supply of energy throughout Cambodia at reasonable prices and to ensure a reliable and secure electricity supply for the expansion of Cambodia’s economy. But this Strategy has had limited success. From March to June 2019, there was a huge shortage of 400 megawatts of electricity during the dry season. This was due to weather conditions, which produced a low water level in a hydropower reservoir. Such a large shortage demonstrates the weak capacity of Electricity of Cambodia (EDC) to manage a vulnerable power supply mix.

Cambodia’s Electricity Law in 2011 has a clear aim of ensuring the protection of the rights of consumers to receive a reliable and adequate supply of electric power at reasonable costs. The Cambodian electricity tariff, however, is the highest among ASEAN members.

Cambodia should have a lower tariff as most of the investment costs in power generation such as coal-fired power plants and hydropower are based on conventional technologies. Countries in the region that have invested in more complex technologies have lower electricity tariffs than Cambodia. It is likely that high prices are a governance issue. Currently, there is public discomfort about the way that EDC manages the supply and price of electricity, especially given frequent blackouts.

Additionally, the security of Cambodia’s oil supply faces risks. Piracy and armed robbery of oil being shipped from the Middle East has played a role in disrupting the free movement of vessels — causing delays, financial losses and loss of life. Cambodia is also affected by tropical weather, with plentiful rainfall which results in floods almost every year. The significant probability of flooding combined with relatively underdeveloped road systems increases the risk of oil supply disruption, especially when oil is transported by truck.

Oil supply in Cambodia is provided by multinational private companies such as Chevron, Total and PTT and Cambodian suppliers like SOKIMEX and Tela. Government regulation stipulates that these companies are to hold 30 days of operational oil stock at terminals. But these companies only hold operational oil stock of about 15–20 days as the country does not have mechanisms in place to monitor these holdings.

The Cambodian government is attempting to reinforce the oil supply resilience of the country. It has been working on improving transport and road infrastructure to diversify modes of oil transportation. It is also improving disaster forecasting systems and emergency schemes for distributing fuel by various transport modes. The development of an oil refinery by Cambodian Petrochemical Company will be completed by 2019 and a domestic oil production project developed by KrisEnergy Ltd will be completed by 2020. Both will likely increase Cambodian energy security in the near future.

So what measures can the government take to address Cambodia’s lack of fuel diversification and a low electrification rate?

The government should first consider households with energy supply that is insufficient to meet their basic needs. Technologies such as rooftop solar photovoltaics, solar farms and standalone small generators can provide fast access to electricity for remote areas in the short term. The government should support investment to connect these areas to the electricity grid in the long term.

Second, the stability and pricing of electricity should be considered. Cambodia may need to establish an institution, such as a national emergency strategy organisation, to deal with energy supply disruption in the future. The Cambodian government may also consider oil stockpiling by the state on top of what oil importing companies hold in their inventory oil stock. This will help protect vulnerable industries such as health, food and electronics during emergencies. It would also be a good signal to investors and it could attract more important investment to Cambodia in sectors that require a stable energy supply such as electronics.

Third, the government should consider the gains that could be made from the efficient generation and usage of electricity. Cambodia could see huge energy savings if new power generators are high efficiency and low emissions models. Besides hard infrastructure, energy efficiency and conservation policies are low-hanging fruit that can save significant amounts of energy at the final stage of consumption, be it in the industry, transportation, commercial or residential sectors.

It is possible to rapidly develop and deploy energy efficiency and saving strategies in all sectors by increasing the share of renewable energy such as solar, wind and biomass power generation in the energy mix. Doing so is essential for the inclusive and sustainable development of Cambodia’s economy.

Renewables

Seminar talks renewable energy development

24 October 2019

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Vietnam

Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s Electricity and Renewable Energy Authority and the Belgian Embassy held a seminar in Hanoi on October 24 discussing renewable energy development.

The event aimed to look into the production and storage of renewable energy, national and internal grids, and the European Union (EU)’s support for sustainable energy development in Vietnam.

Belgian Ambassador to Vietnam Paul Jansen said the event will open up cooperation opportunities for the two countries’ firms in renewable energy field in the near future, adding that the EU and Belgium are ready to share experience with Vietnam and connect businesses together.

Vice Director General of the authority Do Duc Quan said the MoIT has proposed the Prime Minister issue mechanisms to facilitate the development of wind, biogas, solar, and solid waste-fueled power.

Sales and Marketing Director of John Cockerill Group Eric Franssen said Vietnam holds potential for renewable energy development such as waste in industrial parks and biogas heat.

He said the group could assist Vietnam in biogas power production, adding that it is also able to separate hydrogen from water via electrolysis to provide energy for vehicles.

According to him, both sides could also partner in wind power production.

A representative from DEEP C Green Energy Company said there are enough radiation in the north to build solar power plants../.

Oil & Gas

Petronas advocates use of natural gas to address emerging megatrends

24 October 2019

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Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 Petronas has been a strong advocate on the use of natural gas in addressing emerging megatrends such as rapid urbanisation, diminishing resources and the rising need for energy.

President and chief executive officer Tan Sri Wan Zulkiflee Wan Ariffin said in its scenario planning for the years up to 2040, the national oil company projected fossil fuel to remain as the main contributor to the energy mix for the next 20 to 30 years.

“We are a strong advocate for natural gas for the very simple reason that it is the cleanest fossil fuel, ” he told Bernama in an interview recently.

He said Petronas’ strong advocacy for natural gas also boosted its role as the world´s third-biggest liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplier and the company is expected to remain among the top five in the future.

Wan Zulkiflee said the company´s LNG supply points are strategically located in Malaysia, Australia and Egypt, and the list will include Canada in 2024.

He said that natural gas is also one of the answers to the sustainability issue — a big agenda in the industry — as it complements new energy sources such as solar power.

“The problem with solar energy is intermittency. Unless you have a very big storage, you cannot ensure a steady supply.

“So, we always believe in this complementary arrangement. If you have solar, you would also need gas. For instance, during the night or on rainy days, there will be more natural gas power generation, ” he said

Going forward, he said Petronas has ventured into the renewable energy space, especially solar and wind power.

“For solar power, we have acquired Singapore-based Amplus Energy Solutions Pte Ltd (M+), with assets in India in April this year, ” he said.

M+ specialises in rooftop and ground-based solar power projects, with a cumulative capacity of over 500 megawatts (MW) — some currently in operation, while others in the midst of development.

It has projects across India, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

“This is our first venture in solar energy outside of Malaysia. We believe in the long run, this business will grow in terms of renewable energy, ” he said.

As for the wind power business, he said Malaysia lacks the wind speed needed to generate energy, thus the area of business focus would have to be overseas.

“We have just created the business in April this year and are still exploring the opportunities, ” he said.

Additionally, he said Petronas spearheaded the development of the Malaysian Future Energy Landscape 2050 white paper for the government.

Wan Zulkiflee added that Petronas´ involvement in new energy gives it the platform to help shape Malaysia´s energy landscape in line with the government´s target of 20 per cent electricity generation from renewable energy sources by 2025.

— BERNAMA

Energy-Climate & Environment

Entrepreneurs and students join global fight against climate change

24 October 2019

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Cambodia

Last Saturday, 50 young entrepreneurs and students took part in a global competition to address the urgent issue of climate change.

For in depth analysis of Cambodian Business, visit Capital Cambodia
.

Phnom Penh’s Impact Hub played host to the contestants, along with the Delegation of the European Union for a one-day hackathon designed to stimulate the brains of the best and brightest to find innovative solutions to everyday ecological problems.

Last week’s hackathon was part of ‘Climathon’ – a year-round programme that takes place worldwide, initiated by EIT Climate-KIC in a bid to push Europe’s climate diplomacy further, as well as engaging the next generations of entrepreneurs.

The 50 students and entrepreneurs were divided into eight teams – each of which was assigned a mentor from a range of organisations familiar with the issues. Representatives from the EU Delegation, Global Green Growth Institute, EnergyLab and GoGreen Cambodia assisted the Cambodian entrepreneurs who were given 10 hours to tackle one of four issues.

The challenges included very real issues that Cambodia must face, from the reduction of single-use plastics to the need for clean energy, cleaner air and the potential for environmental change via technology.

Over 10 million plastic bags are used in Phnom Penh alone every single day, according to the UN Development Programme.

As Cambodia’s hunt for oil continues, last year renewable energy made up 62 percent of the Kingdom’s installed electricity capacity, although the majority of this came from hydroelectric dams, which many now fear are decimating the ecosystem along the Mekong.

Tackling these timely issues, the winning group included three students from Liger Leadership Academy.

“Liger is all about contextualised learning and the students understanding how they can develop their country, but also where it fits in a global context because climate change is not only significant in Cambodia, it’s significant around the world,” explains Dom Sharpe, country director at Liger Leadership Academy.

“For us we don’t have experts on everything at Liger, so we use the world as our classroom and we need to engage in these opportunities outside of Liger for our students to really compete in an authentic competition to see where their ideas can take them.”

Beating out the other seven groups, the students put forth a plan to create a consulting agency that’s geared towards energy efficiency and data analysis. Their aim to help smaller organisations and businesses find means of saving costs in an environmentally sustainable way impressed the judges, given the context of Cambodia where 97 percent of businesses are small to medium enterprises.

For their efforts, the team was rewarded $500 from the Delegation of the EU and Impact Hub will grant the students a six-month support programme that consists of twice-monthly masterclasses, mentoring sessions and access to Impact Hub’s network of entrepreneurs and investors.

“Where these ideas will lead, in the next six months, that’s a question that no-one can answer, but I think the only thing you can be sure of is that it goes nowhere if nobody tries to do something now. For these students to be involved and have this mentorship, the very least it does is really push them into understanding the real world problem – it’s not a competition they going to try and win it’s a global solution they’re trying to solve,” says Sharpe.

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