KAPIT: Minister of Land Development Tan Sri Dr James Masing said the Bakun hydroelectric dam project (HEP) is a milestone in terms of hydro electricity development here in particular and the state in general.
OVER TO YOU: Zulkifle (left) handing over the ‘taking-over’ certificate of the first turbine to Hans Juergen Krause, site manager of Alstom Power Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd. Also seen in the photo is Masing (centre).
“Though Bakun is not the first project of its kind in the state, it is the first in Kapit.
“So far, it (Bakun) is the biggest dam and HEP in Malaysia in terms of power generation for it can produce 2,400MW once all eight turbines are fully operational,” he said when met at his residence in Jalan Bukit Goram here yesterday.
Masing went to Bakun on Friday for the inaugural testing of the first turbine at 6am the following day.
While in Bakun, he also witnessed the handing-over of the ‘Taking-Over’ certificate of the first turbine between Sarawak Hydro Sdn Bhd (SHSB) and turbine owner Alstom Power Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd, a foreign firm based in France.
“With Murum HEP coming up and the Baleh HEP in the pipeline, Kapit is poised to be the biggest HEP powerhouse in Sarawak.
“If all the HEP sites are completed in 10 to 15 years’ time, Kapit would be a giant powerhouse in the whole country,” he said.
On electricity generated from Bakun, Masing said although the power was meant for commercial and industrial needs, he hoped part of its could be used to benefit the people living around Bakun, including Belaga town, Bakun resettlement area and surrounding villages.
“It is vital that the electricity supply from Bakun be extended to those in the mentioned areas so that the villagers there will no longer have to rely on generator sets.”
Masing revealed that he had talked to SHSB officers and its chairman Tan Sri Izzudin Dali on this matter.
“I am happy that they are looking into the possibility of enabling Bakun power to be used by Belaga townfolks, the Bakun resettlement areas at Sungai Asap and the surrounding villages positively.
“It will be embarrassing if we cannot tap the energy from Bakun to be supplied to the surrounding areas.”
Masing also stressed the need for SHSB to cooperate closely with Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) on the matter.
“This is because SHSB only has the authority to generate the power while SEB is distributing it. Hence, both (SHSB and SEB) need to work together to make the dream of supplying Bakun power to be used by the people living in the vicinity of Bakun a reality.”
Meanwhile, SHSB disclosed that it had successfully completed the trial run of the first turbine.
The whole exercise was approved by the electrical inspectorate unit of the state’s Ministry of Public Utility.
SHSB chief executive officer-cum-managing director Zulkifle Osman said that in order to start commercial operation, the turbine needed to satisfy the stringent requirements of the electrical inspectorate unit.
He added that all testing and commissioning works were carried out to the best international practices and in accordance with the standards and requirements of the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
All reports pertaining to the testing had been submitted and approved, he said in a press statement made available to the sundaypost yesterday
SHSB is a unit of the Ministry of Finance Inc and owner of the Bakun dam while Sesco is a wholly-owned unit of Sarawak Energy Bhd.
Also present to witness the handing-over ceremony were the permanent secretary to the Ministry of Public Utilities Ubaidullah, political secretaries to the Chief Minister Wilson Nyabong Ijang and Angeline Umis Tujok, Kapit Resident Dahim Nadot, Bintulu Resident Mohd Anis and Walikota of Kapit District Council Philimon Nuing.