‘Sarawak’s river systems offer vast hydro power potential’
KUCHING: Sarawak is endowed with many big river systems with vast untapped renewable hydro power potential of 20,000MW, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
According to him, the state government has identified 14 economically viable sites which can generate approximately 8,000MW of electricity if developed.
“The development of these hydro power dams depends on the future demand for energy. With such abundance of water resources, Sarawak is also well-positioned to be a producer of hydrogen fuel,” he said at the opening ceremony of International Energy Week (IEW) 2018 which was officiated by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching ( BCCK) here yesterday.
He pointed out that the state had invested heavily on its renewable energy resources such as hydropower dams including the acquisition of Bakun Dam (2,400MW) from the federal government at a cost of RM8.1 billion; the completion of Murum Dam ( 944MW) costing RM4.1 billion; and the ongoing construction of Baleh Dam, which has an installed capacity of 1,285MW and is expected to be commissioned by 2025.
“Currently, our generation mix is 75 per cent renewable hydro and 25 per cent gas and coal resources to maintain diversity and security of supply.
“With abundant water resources as well as competitive tariff for electricity, the state is able to attract investments particularly in the energy intensive industries within Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE),” he said.
On investments, Awang Tengah, who is also Second Urban Development and Natural Resources Minister, pointed out that private investments in SCORE had reached RM33.64 billion for 22 projects, mainly in energy intensive industries as in Samalaju Industrial Park.
These investments, he said, are expected to create 17,093 employment opportunities.
“SCORE initiatives are not only able to attract huge private investments, they also lead to the opening up of interior regions as more roads and bridges are built linking hydropower dams and the surrounding villages.
“These investments also have created spin-off effects for our local business communities, especially the small-medium enterprises (SMEs) in the construction sector, logistics, supplies of building materials, plants and machineries, catering, maintenance of plants and equipment and so on,” he remarked, adding that in Samalaju Industrial Park alone, the current spin- off effects to the local economy were estimated to be RM506 million per month.
He anticipated more investments to come to Sarawak in view of the state’s attractiveness as a preferred investment destination due to its political stability, business-friendly policies, ability to provide modern infrastructure, competitive power and water tariffs, tax and non-tax incentives as well as a young and skilled workforce that supports the growth of industries.
Also present at the ceremony were Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing, Utilities Minister Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, State Legislative Assembly ( DUN) Speaker Datuk Amar Mohammad Asfia Awang Nassar, Deputy DUN Speaker Dato Gerawat Gala, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Morshidi Abdul Ghani and Deputy State Secretary ( Socio- Economic Transformation) Datu Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, who is also IEW organising committee chairman.