Sarawak Energy in talks for power exchange
KUCHING: Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) is currently in talks with Brunei and Sabah authorities on proposed power exchange agreements.
Chairman Datuk Amar Abdul Hamed Sepawi said the agreements would provide a platform for SEB to develop the proposed Borneo power grid that would pave the way for Sarawak to export electricity to neighbouring Brunei and Sabah.
He said SEB, which is now undertaking the fourth hydroelectric dam project in Baleh in central Sarawak, had taken the first step towards establishing a Trans-Borneo power grid with its first interconnection to west Kalimantan, Indonesia, last year.
Under an agreement with Perusahan Listrik Negara Persero (which is an Indonesian utility body), SEB commenced the export of 50MW initially to west Kalimantan last year and this would be gradually increased to 230MW.
StarBiz had reported earlier that the final report for the feasibility study on the Sarawak-Brunei Power Interconnection System was completed about seven years ago.
The study was carried out under a memorandum of understanding signed between SEB, Brunei’s Prime Minister’s Office and Brunei Department of Electrical Services to collaborate on the generation, connection and distribution of power as well as management of electricity supply between the Brunei and Sarawak governments.
Brunei was said to have agreed to purchase 100MW of electricity from SEB, with an option to buy another 50MW.
It was also reported that the proposed first phase of power export to Brunei would be from Tudan via the border point in Sg Tujuh, Miri, while the second phase might be via Limbang after a proposed hydro dam in Trusan is built.
More recently, there were high-level discussions between Sarawak and Brunei leaders con- cerning the potential for Brunei to contribute equity to the development of hydroelectric dams in Sarawak.
At SEB’s Hari Raya gathering last Friday, Chief Minister Datuk Amar Johari Tun Openg said Sarawak would go ahead in building the proposed Trusan dam in Lawas, Limbang. The proposed dam is expected to generate up to 200MW and will be the first to be developed in the northern region.
Johari was reported to have discussed with the Brunei Sultan on the proposed dam project during a recent visit to the sultanate.
According to Abdul Hamed, the feasibility studies on the Trusan dam project were completed about four years ago.
With Johari’s green light, SEB is expected to carry out the design of the proposed Trusan dam. SEB had planned to build a 1,000MW Baram dam in northern Sarawak several years ago but the project was stopped by Johari’s predecessor, the late Tan Sri Adenan Satem, after strong protests against the project by the villagers who would be affected.
With the Baram dam project shelved, SEB decided to build the proposed 1,285MW Baleh dam, which is located together with the 2,400MW Bakun dam and 944MW Murun dam in the upper Rejang Basin, as there would be no relocation of villagers.
Last month, SEB awarded the Baleh dam project’s main civil works contract to a joint venture between China’s Gezhouba Group Co Ltd and Untang Jaya Sdn Bhd. The contract includes the design and build of the main dam, water intake structures, spillway and penstocks.
The design work for the 188m high concrete faced rockfill dam on the Baleh River is expected to start next month and construction work to commence in October 2018. To be carried out under several works packages, the dam is expected to be ready for full commissioning in 2025.
SEB has recently agreed to buy the Bakun dam from the Federal Government. Besides the Murum dam, the state utility body also built the 100MW Batang Ai hydro dam in southern Sarawak more than 30 years ago.
According to Abdul Hamed, SEB aims to ramp up its power generation to 7,000MW by 2026 to meet the projected demand, especially from industries in Samalaju Industrial Park within the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy.
Energy-intensive industries currently in operation in Samalaju include aluminium and ferroalloy/ manganese smelters.
Sarawak’s current energy demand is around 3,400MW, which was a more than three-fold increase from 1,000MW a decade ago.
Abdul Hamed said the 600MW coal-fired power plant in Balingian, Mukah Division, was expected to generate electricity later this year. SEB also owns similar plants in Mukah and Kuching.