08
local news
@green | July-August, 2020
Greentech
investments
can transform
Malaysia
Sustainability can have a real shot at
transforming the way we live
All over the world,
pundits are forecasting
how the world will turn
out to be at the end of
this global pandemic.
Analyses abound on
ways capitalism should
be reshaped, especially
existing economic models impact on the
lives of billions of people.
For Malaysia, heavily dependent on
oil, this could herald a change driven
by a new mass consciousness becoming
more appreciative of the finite resources
available on the planet.
This was what Simone Galimberti,
the Co-Founder of ENGAGE, an NGO
partnering with youths to promote social
inclusion, sustainable development and
youth empowerment wrote in New Straits
Times. He touched on the possibility of
transforming people’s way of living
through massive investments in green
technologies, including new forms of
public transportations.
He suggested citizens might finally
realise that the current fossil fuel-driven
economy that determines so much of
their daily lives has immense, negative
consequences.
Driving your car to work might be the
only time-efficient way of commuting,
but you should be aware of the taxing cost
this action has on the planet.
“Malaysia should, therefore, rethink all
its strategies to truly kick off an economic
revolution to ensure the country will be
in more solid footing while dealing with
climate change,” he states.
Also for the EU, after being massively
hit by Covid-19, he said members had
been working on a massive reconstruction
plan that put the so-called “New
Green Deal” at its core.
There, airlines are going to be bailed
out only if they agree to become more
environmentally-efficient with the
French government willing to reinvest
in Air France only if the company would
turn into the most sustainable airline in
the world.
For Austrian Airlines, the economic
aid would be conditional to ambitious
environmental standards. The Dutch government
has been forced by the Supreme
Court, deliberating on a suit brought by
a local environmentalist group, to cut its
carbon emissions massively and only a
few had presented an ambitious €3 billion
green investment plan.
He suggested Malaysia should follow
by rethinking its economic model out of
sheer national interests. It would be in
terms of massive investments in effective
green technologies that will be seriously
transformative rather than those
perpetuating the dependence on fossil
and mining as recently revealed in the
eye-opening documentary The Planet of
the Humans.
“We need bottom-up solutions, public
debates at local levels, involving citizens,
the private sector and the learning institutions,
unleashing their creativity and
ingenuity.
“A new narrative about a different
lifestyle and more sustainable
economic patterns will only succeed
if it is fully internalised in the citizens
‘consciousness through their civic
engagement, giving the broader society a
voice and a role to play,” said Galimberti.
— @green
Five bidders for
third solar auction
Malaysian energy regulator Suruhanjaya
Tenaga named the five shortlisted bidders for
the final phase of Large Scale Solar (LSS) 3,
the third round of the national procurement
programme for utility-scale PV.
Four of the bidders pitched proposals for
100MW facilities and the fifth a 90MW project,
hinting the 500MW exercise would be slightly
under-subscribed.
One of the four 100MW projects – to be
developed in Marang, Terengganu – was
submitted by a consortium formed by German
developer ib Vogt and Malaysian company
Coara Solar and a second 100MW project
in Marang was offered by Cypark Resources
Bhd and Impian Bumiria Sdn Bhd.
The third shortlisted 100 MW project
is being planned in Kerian, Perak, by a
consortium led by French energy giant
Engie and Malaysian company TTL Energy
Sdn Bhd.
The fourth 100 MW facility – planned in
Pekan, Pahang – was submitted by local
company Konsortium Beseri Jaya Sdn Bhd
and the Singapore unit of South Korea’s
Hanwha Group.
The 90 MW project was offered by Spanish
developer Solarpack with Malaysian clean
energy outfit JKH Renewables, in Kuala Muda,
Kedah. – @green
Green Packet and Five to
launch Malaysia’s first
‘AI-powered’ petrol station
Green Packet and Malaysia’s newest petrol
company, Five, announced a collaboration to launch
Malaysia’s first artificial intelligence-powered petrol
station.
Five Petroleum Malaysia Sdn Bhd’s managing
director Datuk Seri Dr King Lim said the partnership
would enable cashless digital experience across all
of its petrol stations, leveraging frontier technologies
such as AI and machine learning.
According to The Star online, their mission is to
serve drivers with a different experience through
enhanced personalised services and convenience,
effectively reducing their time to fill their vehicles
when they are in a hurry.
Five is a new petrol company and the other national
petrol brand in Malaysia. Part of Seng Group, the
company aimed to be the leading energy brand in
line with the nation’s progress.
Five intends to bring change to the oil and gas
industry by seamlessly infusing technology into their
operations, giving Malaysians greater access, affordability
and quality experiences.
Together, Kiple and Seng Group will deliver a suite
of mobile apps and services that are one of a kind in
Malaysia.
They chose collaboration with Kiple because of
their mutual belief in digitally transforming petrol
stations. Kiple’s continuous innovation through
investment in groundbreaking technology and creating
amazing user journeys are what makes the vision
a reality.
On what AI-enabled petrol station would be like,
C.C. Puan, group CEO and Managing Director of
Green Packet Bhd which launched Kiple, said: “We
are working to geofence cars that are coming into the
stations with licence plate recognition.
“The vehicle’s plate number will be automatically
recognised, and the driver will be directed to an available
fuel pump.”
As customers can be recognised by their licence
plates, the petrol station can seize this opportunity to
do some push marketing campaigns for those who
are seated in the car and motivate them to walk into
the retail store.
Kiple and Seng Group believe the partnership will
lead to an end-to-end digitalised user journey that balances
both safety and convenience, providing a new
standard for petrol stations in Malaysia. — @green