SAVE Rivers completes micro hydro project at Long Liam

0

The villagers of Long Liam work in a team to implement the MHP project for the benefits of their village.

MIRI: Save Sarawak Rivers Network (SAVE Rivers) wants to make the latest of its village micro hydro projects, Micro Hydro Power (MHP) Installation System at Long Liam in Baram, another success model for a sustainable and inclusive energy future in the state.

Its chairman Peter Kallang was happy that the MPH project which was implemented under work party concept last year had been completed and officially handed over to the villagers of Long Liam.

“For the people in Sarawak and Sabah, the MPH project is a very good initiative which not only provides energy for the people but also brings the people together in order to make the project a success,” he told the media after launching the upcoming conference dubbed ‘Clean Energy Collaboration’ at Telang Usan Hotel here recently.

Kallang said he had seen a similar project at Long Selatong, Tanjung Tepalit in Baram and he was really delighted to note that electricity from the project not only lighted the villagers’ houses at night, but also enabled the rural women to develop their entrepreneurship skills such as in baking and sewing to uplift their livelihood.

Boyce (left) and others install the project’s turbine.

He further said SAVE Rivers was doing a lot of coordination on the ground and looking for funds to implement community projects.

The MPH project, he added, was built by the villagers with guidance from Civil Society Organisations (CSO) SAVE Rivers, Friends of Village Development (TONIBUNG), the Bruno Manser Fund, Green Empowerment and Seacology.

Boyce Anyie, the leader of MHP committee for Long Liam, found that the project is of great significance for them.

Being among those who opposed the Baram dam, he wanted to show the others his strong support to go for clean energy source.

“With this project, we show how rural electrification can look like without large dams. Development is possible without the need to build dams.”