More laws needed to protect sharks

source pic:http://wildaid.wordpress.com/2011/09/05/what-is-shark-finning-infographic/

SAHABAT Alam Malaysia (SAM) notes with concern the views by fishermen and restaurant operators who are opposed to the shark ban in Sabah.


He against the amendment to the Fisheries Act 1985 to make shark fishing illegal.

But it has to be recognised that one cannot fish for sharks at the rate that other fish are harvested – using industrial methods of fishing which may be either large scale purse seine, trawl, otter trawl, gill nets, or small scale hook and line and longline, gill/drift net, and traps or other traditional gear – without a population decline in the species.

Considering the extension of the area and the expansion of deep sea trawl fishing, the shark resource may have been fully exploited, or close to it, as sharks are frequently caught as incidental by-catch in fisheries directed at other species, such as tuna.

Sharks which are priced for their fins are the main target species of longline fishermen in Sabah and Sarawak where they are mainly caught in trawls and drift nets, depending on the locality and season.

Fisheries in East Malaysia may involve a large number of small artisanal fishing boats employing a diversity of fishing gear in addition to the many unlicensed boats and gear and part-time fishermen.

The question of whether there is an on-site catch monitoring by fisheries officials and an accurate estimate of the abundance of sharks in the region is essential, in order to determine the reliability of the by-catch estimates and the sustainability of the incidental catches in fisheries.

At present, there are no fisheries statistics on the estimated by-catch rates on sharks. There is no recent research on the impact of current harvests on shark levels, and little knowledge of their stock status.

Improved information capture at the point of landing by fisheries monitors and fisheries control officers is required to improve the quality of the data.

Whether caught as by-catch or as targeted species, few controls are in place to limit the harvest levels of all sharks in East Malaysia waters, and it is unclear whether the current levels of extraction are sustainable for all or certain shark species.

Regulation and protection for sharks cannot occur without volumes of data over years proving that it is required.

Even then, attempts to protect a threatened species or to lower quotas, even when based on solid scientific data, are almost invariably vigorously opposed by fishing and business community.

Currently there are no laws that protect sharks from fishing in the open seas and few countries have adequate laws to protect sharks from over-fishing.

Sharks are over-fished primarily for two reasons: the high demand for their fins, with a few species also valued for their meat and, secondly, a slow reproductive rate compared with other types of fish.

Some countries have banned shark fishing within waters they control. But the following countries/states have banned shark fishing entirely: Congo-Brazza-ville, French Polynesia (except for mako sharks), Israel, Republic of the Maldives, Palau, Honduras (moratorium) and the US state of Hawaii.

More laws are needed to protect sharks. Little by little, more protection of shark are being proposed and passed throughout the world.

The call by Sabah’s Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Datuk Masidi Manjun, to protect its shark population is a step in the right direction, and SAM urges him to stand firm in his decision to ban shark fishing.

S.M. MOHD IDRIS,

President,

Sahabat Alam Malaysia.



Article Source http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/5/10/focus/11260837&sec=focus
and http://selangorhijau.wordpress.com/2012/05/16/more-laws-are-needed-to-protect-sharks/

Buying an Efficient Light bulb

http://www.cupboardsonline.com/2012/04/buying-efficient-light-bulb.html

Commercial wind energy generation may be possible after all

When talking about commercially producing energy from renewable sources in Malaysia, wind would come last, or even none at all. This is due to the fact that the country has low wind speed.

Malaysia’s mean annual wind speed is not more than 2 metre per second, when minimum 6 metre per second is needed to spin a wind turbine. Plus, wind speed varies according to month and region, making it an unreliable source for energy generation.

However, the lack of good and consistent wind speed are not obstacles to a Universiti Malaya professor.

Dr Chong Wen Tong, who has always been interested in finding a reliable wind source for energy generation, may have found the answer. Around three years ago, he developed a wind energy recovery system from air exhaust outlet – those great fans usually located on top of commercial buildings for air-conditioning.

The system comprised of two vertical axis wind turbines placed above an exhaust outlet in a cross-wind orientation and mounted at a specific height above the exhaust outlet to avoid creating negative performance to the exhaust air system. The system is also equipped with guide vanes to guide the wind to an optimum angle to spin the blades, as well as an augmentation diffuser, which has been shown to improve performance of the wind turbine.

He created the system since air exhaust outlet will give the strong and consistent wind needed, with the aim to recover a portion of the energy generated.

“A good air speed to generate energy is in the range of seven to 13 metres per second and exhaust air creates wind of around 11 metres per second, thus creating a strong and consistent wind,” Chong said.

Testing conducted with the help of the project’s industrial partner, Truwater Cooling Towers Sdn Bhd, which is also a local cooling tower manufacturer, showed that not only the system does not negatively affect the performance of the exhaust, it also re-captures around 13% of the energy created by the motor to spin the exhaust fan.

Chong explained that an air exhaust usually uses a 7.5-kilowatt (kW) motor to spin the exhaust fan and a wind turbine generates around 0.5 kilowatt of energy.

“As the system uses two wind turbines, the energy generated is around 1kW, which shows the system recovers 13% of the energy used to power the motor,” he said.

He added that for the system to work, the wind turbines’ speed has to be faster than the air speed of the exhaust.

And the turbines do spin faster at around 881 revolutions per minute (RPM). In comparison, a 3-blade ceiling fan at your home spins at high speed on average 260 RPM. As a safety measure, the system comes with an enclosure to protect maintenance workers as well as protect others should there be a blade failure.

“The system has a great marketing value since there are many cooling towers as well as other unnatural exhaust air resources around the world,” Chong said.

Plus the capacity factor is quite high, with the exhaust operating in about 16 hours per day (in accordance to operating hours of a building).

The system can be custom-made to fit varying size of exhaust air sources, with the energy generated can be channelled back into the electricity grid or used for commercial purposes.

For the next phase, Chong wants to position the blade into V-shape instead of the current flat-shape… “Much like the wings of an airplane,” he said.

Chong also plans to commercialise the system via Truwater Cooling Towers.

source: http://alampost.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=373:commercial-wind-energy-generation-may-be-possible-after-all&catid=67:energy&Itemid=392

TNB sets aside RM9.7bil to raise generating capacity

HULU TERENGGANU: Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) will spend about RM9.7bil in the next five years to increase electricity generating capacity in Malaysia.


President/chief executive officer Datuk Seri Che Khalib Mohamad Noh said that a major portion of the investment until 2017 was to build several power stations whose locations had been identified.

Among the stations under construction are the Manjung Sultan Azlan Shah Power Station in Perak (RM6bil), a hydroelectric power plant in Hulu Terengganu (RM1.6bil) and Hulu Jelai in Pahang (RM2.1bil).

An independent power producer plans to build a coal-fired plant in Tanjung Bin, Johor, costing RM6bil and it is slated for completion in 2016.

“This means in the next five years, the new projects will give TNB additional generation capacity of 2,000 MW using coal and 630 MW using hydro.

“On average, TNB spends almost RM2bil annually to generate power for the country, and this doesn’t include other projects such as shipments and so on,” Che Khalib told reporters at the Terengganu river water diversion ceremony for the Hulu Terengganu hydroelectric project yesterday.

Che Khalib said TNB’s generating capacity currently was 20,000 MW, with 12,000 MW using gas, 7,000 MW coal and 1,500 MW hydro.

He said the Hulu Terengganu hydro project, expected to be completed end-2015, would be able to generate 250 MW. — Bernama

http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/5/1/business/11207503&sec=business#1335841246484179&if_height=797

Let’s go beyond the Earth Hour

EARTH Hour was observed on March 31 by people across the country who profess concern for the environment and climate change. However, the fleeting and superficial nature of the event makes it of dubious educational and practical value.

photo source: http://selangorhijau.wordpress.com/2012/04/16/lets-go-beyond-the-earth-hour/#more-2639
Several organisations and corporate entities, however, must be commended for implementing environmentally responsible initiatives that go beyond the hour-long festivities. This includes banking group HSBC’s used battery collection programme scheduled to run until June 5.

The predicament of the public now, however, is where to dispose of used batteries for recycling after this programme ends.

It is common knowledge that batteries contain heavy metals such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and nickel, which can contaminate the environment when batteries are improperly disposed of.

When incinerated, certain metals could be released into the air or can concentrate in the ash produced by the combustion process.

The disposal of electronic waste (e-waste) such as dry cell batteries and light bulbs has been a perennial problem for ordinary citizens trying to find a solution to e-waste management.

The Green Living Special Interest Group of the Malaysian Nature Society collects used batteries from the public but faces problems trying to locate a facility willing to accept them for reclamation, recycling, or safe disposal.

The only authorised scheduled waste contractor in the country is unwilling to agree to anything other than a one-off collection as a goodwill gesture.

Unlicensed “recycling” outfits which claim to “recycle” computers and other electronic waste items more often than not strip and recover only valuable metals from the electronic products and dispose of the rest of the items in the trash, and they invariably end up in landfills.

It is ironic that the Housing and Local Government Ministry claims that Malaysians do not recycle enough, yet when initiatives are made by environmental organisations to collect electronic waste and hazardous household waste for recycling or safe disposal, no corporate or governmental entity is able to offer a solution.

We strongly urge the Housing and Local Government as well as Natural Resources and the Environment ministries to implement measures to streamline and increase the recycling and safe disposal of electronic waste by:

> Phasing out the use of mercury-containing batteries through legislation;

> Ensuring uniformity in the collection, storage and transportation of batteries and hazardous waste;

> Requiring manufacturers to provide facilities for the collection of used batteries and electronic products for recycling, and instituting “producer take-back” measures; and,

> Providing facilities to collect electronic waste and hazardous household waste, including batteries, electrical appliances, light bulbs, paint and chemicals, at accessible locations, such as in front of local council buildings and residents’ association buildings.

In the meantime, the public can reduce the number of batteries entering the waste stream by not purchasing unnecessary battery-operated products and by purchasing and using rechargable batteries instead of single-use batteries.

Keeping toxic metals and environmental pollutants out of our waste stream and thus our air, soil and water should be a national health and safety concern, and not merely a month-long Earth Hour corporate social responsibility project.

WONG EE LYNN,
Coordinator, Green Living Special Interest Group,
Malaysian Nature Society.
Source ://http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2012%2F4%2F15%2Ffocus%2F11103822&sec=focus

First Solar shuts Malaysian plants

First Solar Inc, the largest thin-film panel maker, will cut about 30 per cent of its workforce, shutting manufacturing plants in Frankfurt, Germany and indefinitely idling four production lines in Malaysia this year because of a deteriorating European market.


The closures will result in about 2,000 job cuts, the Tempe, Arizona-based company said in a statement today. First Solar expects to pay US$245 million to US$370 million as a result of the job cuts and plant closures. Cost savings associated with the cuts will reduce manufacturing costs to 70 cents to 72 cents a watt this year, the company said.

“After a thorough analysis, it is clear the European market has deteriorated to the extent that our operations there are no longer economically sustainable,” Mike Ahearn, First Solar’s chairman and interim chief executive officer, said in the statement.

The announcement was made before the start of regular trading in New York. First Solar gained 2.9 per cent to US$21.43 at 8:30 a.m.. Before today, the shares had dropped 38 per cent this year. -- Bloomberg

Read more: First Solar shuts Malaysian plants http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20120417212022/Article/index_html#ixzz1sLa17ncv

The Best performance of Toyota Prius's Fuel comsumption

The best performance for Toyota Prius is about 4.4litre/100km or 813KM for 30 Litre Fuel.

Note: A full capacity of Toyota Prius's fuel tank is about 40 Litre.

Feed-in Tariff scheme fits in well with Gading Kencana

SHAH ALAM: Renewable energy (RE) services firm Gading Kencana Sdn Bhd is optimistic of a jump in revenue this year following the implementation of the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) scheme.


The company, which offers consultancy and expertise in RE system design and installation, especially for solar photovoltaic, reported RM12 million revenue last year.

"We expect our turn-over to reach more than RM100 million this year," managing director Guntor Tobeng said.

Guntor said FiT will help Gading achieve the targeted revenue as the rates rewarded for RE players under the scheme opens up investment opportunity.

To maintain its leading position and market growth, he said Gading will continue to develop and introduce new products and services.

"We've just launched our Sun2Cash product for consumers interested in participating in the government's FiT programme," he said.

Founded by Guntor and his wife, Hasnah Awang in 1993, Gading offers consultancy, design, engineering, procurement, construction and monitoring of RE systems to customers from commercial and public sectors as well as individual households, both locally and overseas.

Its clients include Bosch Rexroth Sdn Bhd, Tesco, Kumpulan Melaka Bhd, Ministry of Higher Education and Maxis Bhd.

Guntor, who is also a well-known speaker on energy issues, has been heavily involved in projects like preparation for RE and energy-efficient blueprint for Iskandar Regional Development Authority, as well as energy-efficiency studies for sewerage treatment plants for Indah Water Konsortium and the Prime Minister's Office and Health Minister complexes in Putrajaya.

In an interview with Business Times recently, Guntor said Gading is gearing up to expand its services both at home and abroad.

"We have ongoing business projects in Yemen and United Arab Emirates," he said.

This year, Gading anticipates exports to contribute at least 10 per cent to its revenue. The company is poised to tap growth potential in other countries such as Tonga, Papua New Guinea and Indonesia.

For its capital expenditure (capex) this year, Gading has allocated some RM4 million. Part of the capex is for plant expansion and increasing its product range.

Looking back, Guntor said the company's biggest success was when it first gained the confidence and trust from a bank to finance its projects. "In 2007, UOB was the first bank to open the door for us to venture into a multi-million ringgit project."

Last year, Gading was ranked 19th in the Enterprise 50 Award.

Read more: Feed-in Tariff scheme fits in well with Gading Kencana http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/gadin/Article/index_html#ixzz1rV2vOB73

PJ council starts programme to light up backlane of houses

By Vincent Tan vincent.tan@thestar.com.my

HOUSE owners can start applying for their backlanes to be lit up to enhance safety and prevent crime, said Petaling Jaya mayor Datuk Roslan Sakiman.About RM100,000 has been allocated for the programme which was launched by the mayor on April 3.


Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) will bear the cost of wiring as well as the LED lights. The house owner will have bear the monthly electricity bill as well as replacement cost should the LED lighting be damaged.


MBPJ councillor and Green City of Petaling Jaya Task Force chairman Khairul Anuar Zainudin said the wiring and LED lights would cost about RM300 per house.


for more further infomation

http://selangorhijau.wordpress.com/2012/04/06/pj-council-starts-programme-to-light-up-backlane-of-houses/#comment-612

Note: I did put up my own comment regarding this topic at selangor hijau's blog..

TNB sasar kutip FiT RM300j setahun

TENAGA Nasional Bhd (TNB) menyasar mengutip sehingga RM300 juta setahun bagi sistem tarif galakan (FiT), yang dilaksanakan akhir tahun lalu.


Ketua Bahagian Pengedaran, Teknologi Hijau dan Tenaga Boleh Barunya, Abdul Rahim Jamil, berkata sasaran itu berdasarkan pecahan satu peratus untuk Tabung Tenaga Boleh Baru (Tabung TBB) daripada jumlah pendapatan tahunan yang diperoleh konglomerat utiliti itu, iaitu sekitar RM30 bilion. Bagaimanapun, katanya, sasaran kutipan itu turut bergantung kepada tempoh pembayaran sebenar pelanggan kepada TNB. “TNB akan membuat pembayaran pertama kepada Pihak Berkuasa Pembangunan Tenaga Lestari (SEDA),” katanya ketika program TNB bersama media di Manjung, Perak baru-baru ini.

Pada Disember lalu, pelanggan elektrik yang menggunakan lebih 300 kilowatt (kWh) sebulan diwajibkan menyumbang satu peratus daripada jumlah bil bulanan kepada Tabung TBB mengikut Akta TBB 2011.

Jumlah itu dicaj secara automatik dalam bil bulanan masing-masing yang membabitkan kira-kira 30 peratus atau 2.2 juta daripada keseluruhan 7.2 juta pemegang akaun TNB.

Dana terkumpul menerusi Tabung TBB akan digunakan untuk mempromosikan dan membangunkan projek serta inisiatif berkaitan tenaga boleh diperbaharui (RE).

Hampir semua pemegang akaun yang bakal terbabit dengan sumbangan TBB itu ialah sektor pekilangan, industri atau industri kecil dan sederhana (IKS) selain kediaman tertentu.

Sistem FiT ditadbir urus oleh SEDA yang ditubuhkan di bawah Kementerian Tenaga, Teknologi Hijau dan Air.

Mengulas lanjut, Abdul Rahim berkata, pembayaran pertama itu adalah kutipan bagi Disember, namun pihaknya menjangkakan ia bukanlah jumlah besar memandangkan FiT baru dikuatkuasakan.


“Berdasarkan peraturan ditetapkan SEDA, TNB perlu membuat pembayaran mengikut asas empat bulan. Contohnya, kutipan Disember perlu dibayar pada April dan kutipan Januari dibayar pada Mei. Begitulah seterusnya,” katanya.

Katanya, asas empat bulan itu juga berdasarkan kutipan bayaran bil pelanggan TNB yang diberikan tempoh sehingga 30 hari untuk menjelaskan bil semasa.

Sementara itu, beliau berkata, TNB berada pada landasan tepat untuk menandatangani Perjanjian Pembelian Kuasa Tenaga Boleh Diperbaharui (REPPA) dengan pelbagai pihak berkaitan.


“Buat masa ini, TNB sudah memeterai REPPA dengan pengeluar solar photovoltaic (PV) berskala kecil, manakala pengeluar berskala besar akan dimuktamadkan tidak lama lagi,” katanya.

Mengenai program RE, Abdul Rahim berkata, loji tenaga solar pertama TNB bernilai RM65 juta dengan kapasiti lima megawatt (MW) di Putrajaya akan beroperasi pada akhir tahun ini.

“Projek itu selaras dengan objektif menjana 5.5 peratus atau 985 MW bekalan elektrik menerusi RE menjelang 2015,” katanya.



Berita Harian
http://www.bharian.com.my/articles/TNBsasarkutipFiTRM300jsetahun/Article/