Green energy needed for Vision 2035 success

ALTERNATIVE energy source will be one of the main factors towards achieving the goals of Brunei Darussalam's Vision 2035 programme,

Dato Paduka Hj Idris Hj Abas, a LegCo member speaking at the 7th State Legislative Council (LegCo) session yesterday, said that Brunei should not only strive to conserve and save energy sources but has to think about the environment.

"Going green, in conjunction with alternative energy will be an important factor to achieve Vision 2035 and Brunei has taken a few initiatives and studies on this matter. We would like to enquire what the current status of the projects are," Dato Hj Idris asked during the session held yesterday.

Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Paduka Hj Mohd Yasmin Hj Umar in response to the question said that there are two studies being conducted by the Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies (CSPS) in cooperation with Mitsubishi Research Institute and Canada.

"The study with Mitsubishi, which spans 10 months, will end this month and has taken into account the country's's economy and environment. The study in collaboration with Canada on alternative energy will be finished by the middle of this year and we are monitoring these two closely to see what is appropriate for Brunei," said Pehin Dato Hj Mohd Yasmin.

The minister also added that an Energy Institute, focusing on alternative energy, will be formed in the middle of this year with Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) involving private stakeholders like oil companies and other non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

In an interview with The Brunei Times on the sidelines of the meeting, Pehin Dato Hj Mohd Yasmin said that although the CSPS projects are not completed, they have some preliminary indication on studies.

"At the end of the day, it will be important to see which direction we take in the future, whether it be solar, mini-hydro and so on. However, we can already discount the use of wind and thermal energy," he said. The minister preferred to allow the consultants to complete their studies before making an announcement.

During the session, LegCo member Dato Paduka Hj Yunos Mohd Noh commended the setting up of Tenaga Suria Brunei (TSB), a solar energy plant, which is already connected to the Belait's electricity grid. "The TSB, installed in July 2010, has a capacity of 1.2 megawatt, enough to power 200 houses, which saves 340 kilo-litres of oil and reduce 940 tonnes of CO2 annually. I would like to congratulate the relevant ministry on this and enquire on the future steps of this plan for Brunei going forward," Dato Hj Yunos said, putting forth his question.

Pehin Dato Hj Mohd Yasmin said that solar energy definitely has a potential in Brunei; however there are challenges involved, for example, high costs.

"We do hope that solar works well in Brunei and can be an avenue for alternative energy. Last time, I said that renewable energy is one of our commitments in line with the Apec (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) Leader Declaration, Sydney 2007, that by 2020 we will have 20 per cent reduction in our carbon intensity due to renewable energy," the minister said.The Brunei Times