Bakun power for S’wak only, and it's not fair

Bakun power for Sarawak only
By Samuel Aubrey/ The Borneo Post / Saturday, December 12th, 2009
http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=64161

Taib says KL agrees state use it first to establish its heavy industries

KUCHING: All the power from Bakun hydroelectric dam, which will be fully commissioned next year and fully operational in 2011, will now go to Sarawak in order to serve the state’s own industrial needs.This is following the agreement given by the federal government to the state’s request to have the power from Bakun to be dedicated entirely for the local industries, especially under Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who revealed these yesterday, said the state government was now taking the next step which was to package a deal to ‘lease’ Bakun hydroelectric dam from the federal government.

“The prime minister has agreed with the state government that Bakun will be first used to supply the needs of establishing Sarawak’s heavy industries. All of (power from) Bakun is now available (to us).

“We are now packaging a deal to lease Bakun from the federal government …This is a good start for us, and it’s going to bring continuous development in the future,” he said at the opening of a new factory for Sarawak Cable Berhad at Demak Laut Industrial Estate here.

With that announcement, it looks likely that the plan to ‘export’ power from Bakun to the peninsular via submarine cables by 2015 will not be implemented as originally scheduled.

Bakun dam is scheduled to produce 1,776MW of ‘firm’ electricity when fully operational in 2011.

According to Taib, more dams will be built after Bakun, and construction work on Murum has started and is expected to be completed in 2013.

“We are doing feasibility studies for dams in Baram and Ulu Baleh. And that’s not the end of the story, because of our high potential to produce up to 28,000MW (from the 12 hydroelectric dams planned in Sarawak).

“This is going to be the core of the development in Sarawak in the next 20 years. It will give us a development that is quite different from the past,” he said, adding that the state was also examining the possibility of having second power line for the coastal areas.

Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan had said on Nov 7 that Sarawak would have the capacity to export electricity if the Murum Dam, which could produce more than 600MW, was completed on time.

He also said the goal to export electricity to the peninsula could also be achieved with acceleration of the state’s hydroelectric expansion plans.

Tengah was also quoted in newspaper reports that Sarawak requested all the power from Bakun due to the needs of the aluminium smelter plants.

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Based on the above report, I don't think other Malaysians are thinking about us on our needs of energy resources, a strategical element in our future survival.

Now Sarawak government wants to use all the Bakun power for their Aluminum smelting plant, and other industrial projects, too.

While Sabahan has been wistfully hoping that our East Malaysian neighbour state can spare us some of their sustainable energy sources; but unfortunately, it turns out to be only wishful thinking.

Sabah has been 'blessed' with aplenty natural resources such as oil and gas. There should be enough of this valuable energy source for us, indeed, for another 20 to 30 years of 'low cost' electrical power supply.

Will the gas-powered plant in Papar/Kinmanis 'hit' by gas shortage in a few years time?

The status of Lahad Datu Power Plant based on coal-fired technology is suspicious as the Federal government has been pushing coal-fired power plant for Sabah instead of the gas-powered power plant that relying on the abundant gas locally produced, and the gas solution is more environmental friendly.

Building a coal-fired power plant in the east coast of Sabah is not acceptable due to the highly probable environmental risks and international obligation. It will not be going down well with our government's recent commitments in the Climate Change Summit Conference held between 7th to 18th of December, 2009 in Copenhagen . (refer to Malaysia's participation at Copenhagen determines world survival (Climate Change Summit Copenhagen) 2009-12-13 11:52(http://www.mysinchew.com/node/32748?tid=4)

The environmental risks in getting the electrical power, which is critically needed in the state in our on-going government projects like the Sabah Development Corridor, must be resolved quickly by rethinking the way we use electrical power and its generation process.

The eco-system in the east coast must be preserved in order to align (compromise) with the future plan for the State of Sabah on eco-tourism. Any possible destruction of its pristine natural conditions must be addressed and dealt with immediately.

Is Sarawak government 'selfish' on their 'inability' to share its resources? They are using the Federal fund to construct the mega-project, and yet when it's finished, they start to talk differently, why? Cunning, isn't it?