Carbon-zero Penang Global City Centre

obmar · Carbon-zero Penang Global City Centre

01-08-2007: Carbon-zero Penang Global City Centre
by Regina William
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BUTTERWORTH: The Penang Global City Centre (PGCC), one of the projects identified under the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), will be among the very few carbon-zero cities in the world.

“The project will be one of the very few carbon-zero cities in the world as we aspire to have a project which will showcase Penang to the rest of the world,” said Datuk Patrick Lim, executive chairman of Equine Capital Bhd, who has a 25% equity stake in the project.

“We have taken great pains to do this, balancing the ecology and maintaining the greenery, even though a major portion of the 260 acres are hilly. We are also planning a park which will link this project to the Municipal Park and Botanical Gardens where the public will
have access to.”

With a gross development value (GDV) of RM18 billion to RM20 billion, the PGCC which will be developed on a site currently occupied by the Penang Turf Club. Its developers want the PGCC to become an iconic landmark for Penang like what the Kuala Lumpur City Centre is for Kuala Lumpur.

The Penang Turf Club is being relocated to the mainland and will be renamed the Penang International Equestrian Centre.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who launched the Penang chapter of the NCER said the PGCC would be developed into the premier international MICE destination in Penang.

Lim said the project was currently awaiting the last “bits” of approval from the relevant authorities and would be unveiled in September. It is hoped that construction will begin within a year. PGCC is also applying for MSC status.

Lim said the project would have two towers, with retail outlets, residential and commercial units and an arts theatre.

Once completed, Lim said there would be job opportunities for 20,000 people as plans were afoot to entice manufacturing companies to locate their regional offices at PGCC. Its construction would also create jobs for 7,000 people.

Asked about the development of the Penang International Equestrian Centre on the mainland, Lim said its construction would likely coincide with the building of the second Penang bridge because of its proximity to the bridge.

The Inquisitor

obmar,

What does carbon zero mean?? Are they talking about little or no pollution emissions from vehicles??

obmar

The net balance between emmision being negated by plants addition of oxygen. I think they mean that.

thus ecologically balanced/

"balancing the ecology and maintaining the greenery, "

The Inquisitor

Interesting concept. I'd like to revisit this story in five years to see what kind of progress they've made.