Lawas And Limbang's Forte-Hydro Electricity
LAWAS: Lawas and Limbang Districts have the capacity to produce 700 Megawatt of electricity through hydro electric dams, says Minister of Public Utilities Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
"Our priority at the moment is to develop hydro dams in the two districts. Lawas has the potential to produce 100mw, Limbang 200 mw, while Trusan has 400mw.
"This will be undertaken by private sector initiative (Sarawak Energy Bhd)," he told 'ET in Travel' during his Hari Raya open house here last Monday.
However, he was not able to give a time frame as both dams were of private sector initiatives.
"Once completed, electricity from the two dams will be be utilised by Lawas and Limbang, and the balance to be connected to the State's grid.
"Brunei has also shown keen interest to buy our electricity," he said.
On Trusan Dam, he said the design would be a bit different...it would a cascading dam.
Tengah, who is also Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management, said the government had set up two Rural Growth Centres (RGCs) here to mobilise the local population - one at Ba'Kelalan-Long Semadoh, and the other at Sundar-Awat Awat.
"They will be developed to provide the critical mass, by bringing in government facilities such as schools," said Tengah.
He said the government had identified a site suitable for integrated oil palm industry in the district. "With it, other industries such as aqua culture, poultry farming and agriculture will flourish."
On tourism, Tengah said Lawas and Limbang would also be further developed by grouping them with Sabah and Brunei.
"This is where bilateral cooperation is needed if we want the industry to flourish.
"Tourists are now coming to Mulu via Kota Kinabalu and Brunei. With Lawas nearer to Mulu by air, what better way than to improve tourism infrastructure here," said Tengah.
On sports, he said that Brunei Bay could be used to hold water sports to enhance the tourism industry in the Brunei-Sabah-Lawas area.
Lawas is gearing towards development including waterfront beautification.
"Lawas and Limbang could have sports centres of their own for the promotion of sports and other social activities. There is no religious and racial barrier here. We are a special breed. For instance, when we organised a Quran recital competition recently, the Buddhists and Christians were there to help.
"When we build a Chinese temple the government allocates land and everybody helps to raise funds. For me, I visited Christian friends during the last Easter, and now they are here to pay me Hari Raya visit," Tengah proudly announced.
23 Sept 2009 ET
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