By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Nov 5: Sarawak government should consider dropping the idea of introducing hydrogen buses for the public transportation system.
Kota Sentosa assemblyman Chong Chieng Jen said looking at the cost benefit analysis, the benefit in the reduction of carbon unit does not justify the cost of investment for the mere fact that the technology is not mature.
“The technology is not very mature, as demonstrated by the hydrogen buses that were stalled during its trial operation on the city roads for a few months.
“It is very costly. Investing so much money, but (the question is) whether the carbon unit reduced justify the amount of money spent,” he told reporters at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex here today.
He explained: “Assuming RM10 million additional fund is incurred to implement the hydrogen technology compared to diesel and electricity buses, and managed to reduce the carbon unit by, for example, 500,000.
“If you use the RM10 million on traditional industries to improve their system, (say) it could reduce the carbon unit by one million, which is more, this is what we talk about cost benefit analysis.”
The Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman advised the state government to go back to basic and focus on having a bus transportation system to solve the traffic jam and road congestion.
The hydrogen fuelled buses have continued with its trial run to collect more data and information before they are put in full operation. Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin said everything must be functioning smoothly and safe before it is launched to the public.
He also explained that the contamination problem at the hydrogen production plant has been rectified and resolved, while the refuelling station has been commissioned. — DayakDaily
