KUCHING: All eight turbines for the Bakun hydroelectric dam are expected to be fully operational by the end of 2013.
Second Planning and Resource Management Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan yesterday further said the turbines were expected to generate 2,400 megawatts (MW) of electricity.
He added that as a start the first turbine would operate this August.
“Currently, the reliability run for Bakun dam is conducted today (yesterday). The reason is to adjust the energy produced to the state’s grid system. Everything seems to be going on smoothly.
“Approximately one month from now, the first turbine will be run and it will generate 300MW of electricity,” he told reporters at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) yesterday.
Earlier, the minister officiated at the third ‘International Conference on Applied and Creative Arts (Icaca) 2011 – Beyond Boundaries’ at the university.
Awang Tengah also informed that electricity generated by Bakun dam would be commercialised with focus on industries in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) area.
In a report yesterday, Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd chief executive officer (CEO) Zulkiflie Osman had said that the reliability run conducted yesterday was the last phase of the various tests conducted before the generated electricity could be commercialised.
“Everything has to be done and monitored very carefully as any mistake may cause major catastrophe which we cannot afford to make,” he said.
On the development of Bengoh dam, Awang Tengah who is also Public Utilities Minister said there was a slight delay in the construction of the amenities at the resettlement area at Kampung Semadang-Bau.
About 900 residents had to be moved out from four villages at Ulu Padawan; Kampung Semban, Rejoi, Pain Bojong and Taba Sait.
“The dam is completed and we just want to ensure that the resettlement is completed with all the amenities needed before we move the residents,,” he said, adding that the construction works were going on smoothly.
Construction of Bengoh dam began in August 2007 and was scheduled to be completed in December last year.
It has the capacity to supply about 144 million cubic metres of unprocessed water to Batu Kitang water treatment plant for the usage of Kuching and Kota Samarahan areas.