Government will consider additional power sources, says Tengah

ASAJAYA: The State Government will be identifying other areas in Sarawak that have the potential to be developed into hydro-electricity dams, in order to generate more electricity.

Minister of Resource Planning II, Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said that technical studies for the purpose have already been carried out, adding that among the new areas which have been identified are those in Limbang, Lawas, Pelagus and Baram.

“We will develop the hydroelectric dams in accordance with the request made by investors, other than supplying the electricity to Indonesia, Brunei and most probably to Sabah as well,” he said when met after the handing over of compensation cheques and land titles at Kampung Mang here yesterday.

He added that in order to supply electricity, all alternatives must be looked into because the state must not depend too much on the Bakun hydro-electric dam and the Murum dam alone.

On the impoundment of the Bakun dam reservoir, Tengah said the government has already given the green light to Sarawak Hydro Sdn Bhd to carry out the task. “Works to fill up the dam with water include the risks, as it needs planning and emergency preparation,” he said adding that the public should not worry as studies have already been done on the matter.

When full, the dam’s reservoir will cover 695 square kilometres, which is equal to the size of Singapore.

Tengah also disclosed that works on the trial for the transmission of electricity from Bakun started sometime last July. He said that the Bakun hydro-electricity project costing about RM7.3 billion will be able to generate some 2,400megawatt (MW) of electricity.

On the issue of the residents at the Bengoh dam who have yet to be resettled, he said the matter arose because they were alleged to be instigated by the opposition party or individual for their personal gain.

“Initially there wasn’t any problem, but now it seems there is a problem because of wild instigation,” he said.

Tuesday, 07 September 2010 11:25 Patrick Joseph