Bakun dam to get a boost
Additional turbine to power up supply for energy-intensive industries
KUCHING: An additional turbine to boost Sarawak’s supply for energy-intensive industries will be installed at the 2,400MW Bakun hydroelectric dam.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the new turbine - the ninth - would produce 300MW, bringing the dam’s installed capacity to 2,700MW.
“With this, Bakun, Murum and Baleh dams will have the capacity to power energy-intensive industries (in Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy),” he said in his keynote address at Sarawak Business Federation’s inaugural Sarawak International Business Exhibition and Conference here yesterday.
Johari, did not, however, say how much Bakun dam owner Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) would invest in the new turbine and when it would be commissioned.
Last year, SEB completed the acquisition of Bakun dam from the federal government for about RM9bil.
Johari had then said that the acquisition represented Sarawak’s overall strategic plan to develop and consolidate the state’s abundant energy resources, and that Sarawak would become a powerhouse. Electricity tariffs would be decreased and excess electricity exported to neighbouring countries.
SEB, which is exporting electricity to Pontinal, west Kalimantan, also owns the 944MW Murun dam which was built for RM4.8bil.
The state-owned company is currently undertaking the construction of the RM9.5bil Baleh dam, which has an installed capacity of 1,285MW. It is expected to be commissioned by 2025.
Besides the substantial investment in the power sector, Johari said the Sarawak government is also making large allocations on road and water supply projects.
“We are going to build the state coastal highway that will take five to seven years to complete,” he said.
The coastal highway project, which will eventually link up with the Pan Borneo Highway, is estimated to cost RM5bil. Tender has opened for the first stretch of the coastal highway, with works expected to commence in the middle of next year.
Johari said the state government had allocated RM2.8bil to fund 247 water supply projects planned for implementation in the next two years. These projects, particularly in distressed areas, include water treatment plants, distribution network system, pipe replacement, upgrading works as well as non-revenue management system.
He said these strategic infrastructure projects were funded by the Sarawak Development Bank, which he launched late last year.
“The Pan Borneo highway and state coastal highway will open up land for agriculture projects,” he added.
The state government was also investing substantially in digital infrastructure to support the state digital economy, he said, adding that the state government could afford to finance these billion-ringgit infrastructure projects in order to stimulate the local economy because “we have saved during the good times.”
Trade offices would be set up in Singapore, operational by January 2019, and in Brunei Darulsalam and Pontianak.
Johari said the Singapore trade office would enable Sarawak exporters to meet their buyers. It would also be able to facilitate business activities for manufacturers, investors, tour operators and the business community.