Gulf Energy’s Suleiman Shahbal on Lamu coal plant and development
Excerpts:
Then there is the 1050 Megawatt Coal based power plant. This will bring in new industries and create much needed business and employment opportunities.
However, these projects are being challenged by NGO’s funded by Europeans who want to see Lamu unspoilt by development. Many of these have holiday homes in Lamu and for their two weeks’ holidays, prefer to see Lamu remain backwards…
While the infrastructure projects are bringing hope, a social and economic tsunami is coming. Are Lamu’s leaders aware? How will the people of Lamu benefit from these coming opportunities if they are not equipped for them? President Kibaki ordered that 1000 youths from Lamu be trained for Lapset, yet very few youths from Lamu have benefitted from this.
These projects will happen, but the people of Lamu may not be the beneficiaries. Political and social dynamics will change quickly. Lamu leaders must prepare their people for this future. It’s coming and its coming fast. The sole hope is education.
Excerpts:
Acceptable levels:
Kenya is now at [a] cross point. Either we make that difficult choice and use the cheaper coal and create those jobs — or spend another 20 years dreaming of industralisation and job creation. Fortunately for Kenya, over 90 per cent of our power is from clean energy, mainly geothermal and hydro so the world can forgive us for trying to create jobs.
Chemicals can be deadly if used in excess. For example, 500mg of paracetamol (Panadol) will cure you, but 5,000 grams will kill you. That is the logic of chemistry. The same logic applies to all emissions from a coal plant, whether it be sulphur, carbon-dioxide or nitrogen. What is acceptable and what is not?
The World Bank has set the standards that are acceptable and the proposed coal plant in Lamu meets all the requirements — and the day they don’t meet those standards then shut it down. No point arguing about the chemicals without stating the acceptable levels.
I am writing this in Lamu and I have to admit that I am one of the promoters of the coal plant. I am from Lamu, my family lives here and no one can claim to love this place more than I do. I would never do anything that would harm my people. However, there is no greater pollution than having millions of our youth remaining jobless and having their ambitions crushed through loss of hope. To quote Golda Meir, we need to make sacrifices with our conscience and bring the cheap power. Even if this annoys our rich friends.
