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Environment
Environmental sustainability is
one of the key areas of interest for the Group.
During the year, several measures
were adopted at Genting Highlands Resort to help reduce electricity consumption
and the heat load for the air-conditioning system including the installation of
variable speed drives to reduce energy consumed by motors and the installation
of energy-saving light bulbs in the casino, hotel rooms and car parks. To reduce
diesel consumption, RWB installed heat recovery systems such as economisers and
air pre-heaters at steam plants. A steam trap with stationary parts was also
used to avoid unnecessary steam loss. These measures helped reduce diesel
consumption by 15% in 2008.
RWB also successfully reduced
water consumption by installing flow restrictors to minimise flow rate in
selected areas and effectively reduce water volume per flush for water cistern
tanks.
Waste management efforts included
replacing conventional lights with smaller long-life energy-saving lights, using
recycled paper in back offices, and collecting recyclables such as plastic
wastes, scrap metals and aluminium cans to be sent to recycling centres. RWB has
also identified the types of scheduled waste generated and engaged an authorised
contractor to recycle and treat them.
Various initiatives were
implemented to prevent pollution of natural resources, such as the Yearly
Sanitary Survey on the water supply system. Based on the survey, remedial
actions were identified to prevent water pollution. Additionally, 110%
containments for the diesel tanks are installed and the diesel piping is checked
daily to eliminate the risk of water contamination due to leaking diesel. Air
pollution is prevented by the installation of air pollution control equipment to
treat flue gas before it discharges as well as regular monitoring on flue gas
quality.
The Group via Asiatic has been
supporting the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (“RSPO”) since 2004 to promote
the growth and use of sustainable palm oil through various co-operation with
suppliers and other stakeholders. Asiatic established a Sustainability
Department and has put in place various plans to meet the challenges of
complying with the standards of the RSPO Principles and Criteria.
In June, Asiatic formed a
partnership with DuPont Malaysia Sdn Bhd to recycle used High Density
Polyethylene containers, a project that involves all estates in Peninsular
Malaysia. The Group intends to participate in global carbon emission reduction
efforts via collaborations in Clean Development Mechanism projects at its mills.
Asiatic is the first plantation
company to participate in the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia’s
“Partners for Wetlands” programme since 1999. In support of WWF’s tree planting
programme initiative to conserve the Kinabatangan floodplains, Asiatic has
dedicated 86.5 hectares of riparian reserves to this project for rehabilitation
and reforestation. As at the end of 2008, some 11,300 trees have been planted,
covering an area of 22 hectares. Asiatic will continue with the efforts to
support the restoration of the region’s rainforests, which are an important
habitat for indigenous animal species.
RWS via its Marine Life Park
launched the Marine Life Fund in May 2008 in line with its continual commitment
to marine conservation and research. The fund aims to sponsor research,
education and conservation efforts related to marine life. Since the launch, RWS
has disbursed funds to WildAid, a US-based non-profit organisation, for the
direct protection of the Galapagos Marine Reserve in Ecuador.
Marine Life Park has also
partnered conservationists from WildAid and Singapore’s Animal Concerns Research
and Education Society (“ACRES”) to roll out long-term public education
programmes. RWS continues to look for worthy conservation causes to support.
Source: Genting Berhad
Annual Report 2008
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