Site Visit to Potential Geothermal Sites in Sungkai Perak

Today, I spent my day all day outside of the office. I, with some other people from various departments went for a site visit to Sungkai and Slim River, Perak. Yahooo hehe...being away for outstation trips once in a while is really a blessing from Allah, Alhamdulillah. Not only do we get to skip away from the hustle and bustle of unfinished business in the office, but we also have the opportunity to learn something new from the visits.

The trip today was to two hotspring spots located in Sungkai, and Slim River, both in Perak. The trip took about 2 hours from TNB HQ. The participants comprised those from TNBR, Planning Division, GAD and a few from Jabatan Mineral dan Geosciences (JMG) a governmental department under the Ministry of Resources and Environment. The trips was arranged by TNBR as the company is responsible in carrying out this siting project. As present, TNB is embarking on rigorous development of renewable energy (RE) resources for electricity generation purposes. By 2012, RE Act and Action Plan will be rolled out by Minister of Energy, Green Energy and Water. This new act is introduced to blast up RE development in Malaysia. Currently, RE is being developed under SREP program, and monitored by TNB. SREP (Small Renewable Energy Program ) was implemented upon implementation of 5th Fuel Policy by government in 2001 which declared RE as the 5th fuel for generation fuel mix. Up to date, a total of ~88 MW of REPPA has been signed and issued. Out of this figure, only ~40 MW has been commissioned ( 5 plants) and most of the plants are biomass and biogas type. The rest of capacity is either under construction or still under planning stage. Some of plants have been terminated due to various reasons. In 9th Malaysia Plan (2006-2010), government set a target to have total RE installed capacity of 300 MW by 2010. This figure however has failed to be achieved due to poor mechanism to either promote and implement RE. You see, you can just say it by comparing the figure in SREP with the targeted figure! However, we have to have high confidence in government`s long term goal to have RE successfully implemented and developed in Malaysia.

Quoting Peter Chin`s speech :

"t the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (UNFCCC)–COP 15 Copenhagen, Malaysia had announced its commitment to reduce the carbon footprint by 40% in terms of emission intensity of GDP by 2020 compared to the 2005’s levels. I forsee one of the efforts here is making green building the fore front of the agenda. Green buildings use a wide range of creative and effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, hence, the use of new technologies, materials and other new creations which in turn provide new avenues for green businesses."

To cut down CO2 emission, we have no other options, but the clich`e one, which is to adopt clean technology which comes either from nuclear technology or RE. I believe strongly that with proper implementation and monitor from government as well as TNB, RE has a bright future in Peninsular Malaysia, InshaAllah.

Okay, so there comes an idea to develop geothermal energy as in conjunction of government`s aspiration to see RE development booms. due to the fact that, in Peninsular Malaysia, a few locations have been identified as possessing high potential for geothermal energy being harnessed. TNBR has been carrying out this site identification. They have identified several locations and the place that tops the list is around hotspring area located in Kg Hulu Slim, Slim River, Perak. The hotspring there is not developed for commercial reason, at least up till now. The area is opened for public as anyone could stop by and have a look. But mind you, the temperature is ~90-100 C. So don`t ever dare to dip your hands in.