Banggi holds biogas potential
Published on: Monday, May 05, 2025
Published on: Mon, May 05, 2025
By: Nikko Fabian Text Size: Preliminary assessments indicate Banggi Island's potential to generate over 1.5 GWh of renewable electricity annually by converting palm oil mill effluent and other biomass by-products into biogas. Kota Kinabalu: BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BEBC-Sabah) Chairman Dr. Raymond Alfred revealed its unwavering support for developing biogas energy infrastructure on Banggi Island. He said this strategic initiative aims to bolster sustainable energy security and foster inclusive economic growth in the region. 'Banggi Island, including Kudat and Kota Marudu, boasts a burgeoning oil palm industry, generating substantial biomass waste like POME and EFB…This presents a unique opportunity to transform Banggi into a model for rural renewable energy and agro-industrial development. I am eager to collaborate with Dato Verdon Bahanda, the Member of Parliament for Kudat, on this project,' he added. Preliminary assessments indicate Banggi Island's potential to generate over 1.5 GWh of renewable electricity annually by converting palm oil mill effluent and other biomass by-products into biogas. The clean energy source could power hundreds of rural homes and businesses, significantly reducing reliance on expensive diesel-generated electricity. Raymond further emphasized, 'This initiative aligns perfectly with the BIMP-EAGA Vision 2025, promoting green infrastructure, robust local value chains, and sustainable livelihoods. It's also crucial for Banggi's long-term goal of achieving full district status, with energy self-sufficiency forming a cornerstone of its local governance and development.' The Business Council advocates for: A comprehensive feasibility study involving state agencies, palm oil stakeholders, and renewable energy experts.
Strategic public-private partnerships to expedite infrastructure investment.
Robust support from national bodies such as SEDA, MPOB, and the Sabah Energy Commission. Raymond highlighted that biogas development transcends mere technological advancement; it represents a transformative opportunity to create green jobs, enhance energy access, and empower local communities in one of Sabah's most remote yet resource-rich areas. 'With the support of the BIMP-EAGA Special Envoy Tan Sri Pandikar Amin, we are committed to establishing Banggi as a pioneering example of rural energy transition—benefiting not only Sabah, but the entire BIMP-EAGA region,' quipped. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Express
3 hours ago
- Daily Express
Penampang Municipal Council first to get green building certification
Published on: Saturday, June 21, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jun 21, 2025 By: Nikko Fabian Text Size: Joachim during a ceremony that also launched MPP's new e-Complaint application and Command Centre. PENAMPANG: The Penampang Municipal Council (PMC) achieved a significant milestone in its commitment to sustainability and innovation, becoming the first government building in Sabah to receive Green Building certification. The official announcement was made Friday by Deputy Chief Minister II and Minister of Local Government and Housing, Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Joachim Gunsalam, during a ceremony that also launched MPP's new e-Complaint application and Command Centre. Joachim lauded the council's achievement as a testament to its dedication to addressing global climate change challenges and promoting energy efficiency. The Green Building certification reflects PMC's commitment to sustainable building practices, including the installation of solar panels, energy-efficient equipment, and LED lighting. This aligns perfectly with the Sabah Maju Jaya Development Plan's focus on people's well-being and environmental sustainability, he said. The Green Building certification underscores PMC's proactive approach to environmental responsibility, setting a new benchmark for local authorities in Sabah. Advertisement Joachim said the council's adoption of new technologies not only reduces long-term operational costs but also contributes significantly to global efforts in combating climate change. Beyond the environmental achievements, Joachim added that the launch of the e-Complaint application and the Command Centre marks a significant step towards digital governance and data-driven management. 'The Command Centre, equipped with a CCTV monitoring system, enhances security, traffic management, and disaster response capabilities…The e-Complaint application provides citizens with a more efficient and transparent channel for submitting complaints, fostering a more responsive and citizen-centric municipal administration. Joachim expressed his gratitude to all involved, particularly former MPP President Francis Chong, Benny Ng, and Shareda for their technical and professional expertise. He urged other local authorities in Sabah to emulate MPP's innovative approach to sustainable development. The event was attended by key figures including Kepayan Assemblywoman Jannie Lasimbang, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Jamli Lasimbang and representatives from Shareda and GreenRE. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
3 hours ago
- Daily Express
Need to shield B40 from SST impact: Umno
Published on: Saturday, June 21, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jun 21, 2025 By: Abbey Junior Text Size: Suhaimi noted that Sabah remains one of the states most affected by development imbalance and income inequality — making it all the more urgent for the government to provide strong buffers against the impact of new taxes. Kota Kinabalu: With the full implementation of the Sales and Services Tax (SST) in Sabah just around the corner, the state government must explain what measures are in place to protect low-income groups from the expected rise in living costs. Sabah Umno information chief Datuk Suhaimi Nasir said the absence of clear strategies to assist vulnerable communities is worrying, especially as nearly 40pc of households in the state fall under the B40 category. 'Many depend on informal work or subsistence economies. The SST could erode their already limited purchasing power — particularly in rural areas,' said Suhaimi, who is also Libaran MP, in a statement on Friday (June 20). The tax rollout, set to begin on July 1, was introduced under Budget 2025 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Under the new framework, a 5pc–10pc sales tax will apply to selected non-essential goods, while the service tax is being extended to sectors such as rental and leasing, construction, finance, private healthcare, private education, and beauty services. Suhaimi noted that Sabah remains one of the states most affected by development imbalance and income inequality — making it all the more urgent for the government to provide strong buffers against the impact of new taxes. While he acknowledged the importance of SST in boosting national revenue, he said it must be balanced with fair and inclusive support policies to prevent it from becoming a burden to ordinary Sabahans. Advertisement He urged the state government to implement targeted subsidies, expand the scope of price controls on essential goods, and provide conditional cash assistance to help households cope. 'The revenue collected must be returned to the people through tangible improvements in rural infrastructure — such as roads, clinics, clean water, and internet coverage — especially in interior areas still left behind,' he said. 'Sabahans deserve transparency on how public funds are spent and how these measures directly benefit their daily lives. Trust is not built on slogans, but on action that prioritises those most in need.' * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
New Straits Times
14 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Australia ban bid faces new wildcard: Teenagers
WHEN 13-year-old Jasmine Elkin tried out the age-checking software Australia might use to ban children and teenagers from social media, she was surprised some products could identify a person's age to the month — but she still doubts it will work. "People are always going to find a way to get past it," said the Perth schoolgirl who trialled five photo-based age estimation products with about 30 other students last month. "They can get their brother or sister to take a photo. There's nothing really that you can do about it." Elkin's view echoes one of the main concerns of child protection advocates, tech firms and even the trial organisers about the technology Australia hopes will enable the world's first national social media ban for under-16s: the software works, they say, but young people will find a way around it. From December, social media companies like Meta's Facebook and Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok will face a fine of as much as A$49.5 million if they fail to take what the law calls "reasonable steps" to block younger users in an effort to protect their mental and physical health. The platforms say users need to be at least 13 years old to sign up for an account. How well the ban works could reverberate across some of the world's largest companies and the governments seeking to contain them: already Britain, France and Singapore are making efforts to keep children and teens off social media, while American states, including Florida, are challenging free speech laws by pushing for a ban. Even the law's opponents are likely to be watching closely: X owner Elon Musk, who is a vocal opponent of platform moderation and regulation, has criticised the measure and called the regulator overseeing it a "censorship commissar". "Everybody is looking at Australia," said Colm Gannon, chief executive officer of the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children Australia, a member of the trial's stakeholder adviser group. "Australia should be really focusing on robust technology, robust testing and making sure the scope of the actual project is in line with the needs that they're trying to address." The organisers of the trial, which ended this month, say it was designed to determine whether the software worked as promised, and that nearly 60 products were pitched. But it also underlined the teenagers' tech skills — testers were so fast completing their assignments, organisers doubled the number of products they tested and halved session times as the project progressed. "It hasn't been our intention to pull apart the software, rip the guts out and work out every different way that you could circumvent it," said Andrew Hammond, general manager at tech contractor KJR, which ran the trial. They are expected to deliver a detailed report to the government by the end of next month. That will inform the eSafety Commissioner's advice to the government, which cited risks from cyberbullying, harmful depictions of body image and misogynist content in pushing forward with the legislation. "We know that social media age restrictions will not be the end-all be-all solution for harms experienced by young people online, but it's a step in the right direction to keep our kids safer," said a spokesman for Communications Minister Anika Wells. For some of the young Australians who participated, the trial was a glimpse into a world six months in the future where, according to the law, they will no longer be allowed to use a platform they have come to rely on for daily communication. "I use it a lot, but I can still live without it," said Canberra school student Charlie Price, 14, who trialled four software options in a room with about 60 peers and had his age guessed accurately (someone in his testing group was wrongly assessed at over 20). "I know people that will get really shocked and upset," added Price, who uses Snapchat, Instagram and messaging platform Discord and plans to collect phone numbers of his online associates before December. Like Elkin, he said he thought some teenagers might try to get around the block.
