KUCHING, May 30 — Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg tonight said he has asked state-owned Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) to look into the possibility of building cascading hydro-power dams at Trusan river in Limbang Division.
He said cascading hydro-power dams would not affect the settlement programme in upper Trusan because it is clear of any human resettlement.
“I have asked SEB group chief executive officer Datuk Sarbini Suhaili to have a new approach, such as cascading hydro-power dams that will produce energy, but does not affect much of our environment.
“I understand that Austria is good at building cascading hydro-power dams,” the premier said at the SEB vendor awards presentation here.
He said the national oil company Petronas has agreed to take up equity in the Trusan dam.
He added that the state government was also negotiating with a third party to take a stake.
The state government in 2017 gave approval for the construction of the 275-megawatt Trusan dam.
The Trusan dam is among hydro-power dams proposed to be built to satisfy the state’s project power needs and the demands of its neighbours, with an aim of generating a total of 7,000 megawatts by 2026.
The proposed Trusan dam is relatively small compared to the state’s mega dams — Bakun (2,400 megawatts), Murum (944 megawatts) and Baleh (1,285 megawatts).
While these mega dams only generate electricity, the Trusan dam will supply both electricity and water once completed.
Tonight, Abang Johari said hydro-power will still be the main energy source for Sarawak, maintaining at least 60 per cent renewable energy capacity mix by 2030.
He said that 15 per cent of SEB’s income will come from foreign markets to position Sarawak as Southeast Asia’s renewable energy powerhouse.
“With the ongoing construction of the Baleh dam as well as continued rural electrification activities, local vendors still have ample opportunity to play a key role in driving Sarawak’s sustainable growth and prosperity,” he said.
