Torstein (right) sharing a light moment with Klemes (centre) and Sharifah Rafidah. — Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING: Preliminary research data indicates a reduction in methane emissions at Bakun Hydroelectric Dam, said Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) chief executive officer Datuk Torstein Dale Sjotveit.
He, however, could not disclose the percentage of reduction as research was still on.
“SEB is taking part in the research on methane emissions at Bakun Dam. This scientific research is being done by an external research company and other experts. Preliminary data shows that emissions had reduced, but we need more scientific data to prove this.
“The research process needs another three to four years before we have the proof to tell the world that methane emissions have been reduced at Bakun,” he told reporters after officiating at the 18th Conference on Process Integration, Modelling and Optimisation for Energy Saving and Pollution Reduction (Pres’15) yesterday.
Torstein, who said the research started in 2009, was asked to comment on the emission of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, in Bakun. Recent news reports claimed water samples taken from Bakun Dam showed unhealthy levels of iron and aluminium in the water. Bakun Dam sits on Balui River, west of Belaga. It is owned and operated by Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd.
Earlier, in his speech at the conference, which is held in Malaysia for the first time, Torstein said he hoped some of the solutions presented at the conference could be used for Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) projects.
“The challenges of global warming brought about widespread environmental pollution, resource depletion, rising human population and multiple threats to food, water and energy securities require a paradigm shift in engineering thinking and ways to find and test solutions.
“Pres’15, with renowned speakers, industry experts and accomplished practitioners offers a unique and valuable opportunity to explore the latest development and applications of process integration for energy conservation, pollution reduction and related topics.”
Meanwhile, Pres president, Professor Jiri Jaromir Klemes, explained that the aim of Pres’15 was to review and advance latest developments and applications on related topics.
“The delegates of Pres’15 will present and share solutions to considerable academic and industrial challenges, particularly in the scope of green technologies.”
The four plenary speakers are Torstein, Journal of Cleaner Production founder Professor Donald Huisingh, University of Edinburgh Emeritus Professor Jack Ponton, and Pazmany Peter Catholic University Professor Ferenc Friedler. Two joint keynote speakers are Dr Cheng-Liang Chen and Professor Santanu Bandyopadhyay.
“Pres’15 will also present the traditional Best Poster Competition under the Professor Zdenek Burianec Memorial Award to five best posters,” he said.
Organised in collaboration between University of Pannonia, Hungary, University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Pres’15 attracted 498 abstracts written by 886 authors from 56 countries. It started on Sunday and will be on until August 28. It will be held in Prague, Czech Republic, next year.
Also present at the opening ceremony were Pres’15 chairpersons Associate Professor Dr Lam Hong Loong and Associate Professor Dr Sharifah Rafidah Wan Alwi.