PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Wednesday expressed his deepest appreciation for the 11,000 Orang Ulu of Sungai Balui, Sarawak who were willing to relocate for the realisation of the RM7 billion Bakun hydroelectric project.
The prime minister’s immeasurable thanks went not only to this indigenous group but also to all the people of the ‘Land of the Hornbill’.
“They, especially the indigenous group, were willing to move from the project site and water catchment area to the resettlement scheme set up for them,” said Najib at the signing of the agreement on energy purchase between Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd and Sesco Bhd, here.
He said the indigenous Orang Ulu in the upstream and downstream areas of Sungai Balui were relocated in stages from 15 longhouses to the settlement area in Kampung Sungai Asap, Bakun.
“This community had made a big sacrifice and given undivided support to the government by
willing to move to a new area and allowing the government to relocate the graves of their ancestors as well as the warriors killed during the Confrontation period,” added the prime minister.
The government’s mega project is situated at Sungai Balui, a tributary of Rajang River, the longest river in Malaysia, and 37km from Belaga town in the Kapit Division.
Electricity generated from the dam with a capacity of 2,400 megawatts will be used for industrial development under the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) agenda, particularly for the identified heavy industries.
“Definitely their deed and kindness will always be remembered and appreciated. The government will not waste the sacrifice made by the indigenous community who relocated to make way for the project,” said Najib who is also Finance Minister.
He said RM534 million had been allocated by the government on relocation and compensation and on the resettlement area for those affected by the project.
Besides that, he said, the government also provided them with basic facilities like a clinic, school and multipurpose hall in order to improve their quality of life.
“The houses occupied by them now have been given free to them by the government and they are provided with clean water supply.”
Najib said monetary compensation and a plot of land were also given to each affected family to grow crops or breed livestock to ensure them steady sources of income.
He said the high commitment of the Bakun project developer, Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd, could be seen in its contribution to the affected local community including building toilets and four residential schools, and providing water supply through underground channels, all costing about RM1.5 million.
Najib said 5,340 occupants of 21 longhouse s in the downstream area of Sungai Balui and 292 families in the upstream area had been enjoying these facilities provided by the developer since last year.
He said the Sarawak government, meanwhile, through Sesco Bhd, and with the cooperation of the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, was drawing up a plan to channel electricity from Similajau to Kampung Sungai Asap for the local community to further enjoy the benefits of development.
Najib also said that the Sarawak government could take the opportunity of making the Bakun dam like the Kenyir dam in Terengganu and Sarawak’s Batang Ai dam as an eco-tourism destination.
“The uniqueness of the flora and fauna found in one of the highest dams in the world has the potential of drawing tourists to this area.”
He said the 695-sq metre Bakun water catchment area in the hilly interior of Sarawak would in future be the biggest man-made lake in the country.
According to Najib, the Bakun Hydroelectric Station was expected to begin generating power from its first turbine in August this year, followed by the other turbines (one every three months) until the eighth turbine in 2013.
The Bakun project development has reached 98 per cent and the water level in the dam was at 202 metres above sea level on April 30, 2011. — Bernama
Source: The BorneoPost Online
Showing posts with label Bakun. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bakun. Show all posts
26 October 2010
Penakungan Bakun diteruskan
Sungai Rajang semakin cetek hingga menyebabkan kos pengangkutan meningkat tiga kali ganda
SONG: Kerja-kerja penaku-ngan air di Empangan Hidroelektrik Bakun (Empangan Bakun) tidak akan diberhentikan walaupun paras air di Sungai Rajang kini semakin cetek.
Menteri Perancangan dan Pengurusan Sumber II, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan berkata kerajaan mengambil keputusan untuk tidak menghentikan kerja-kerja penakungan air walaupun paras air sungai itu ketika ini semakin cetek, terutama di bahagian hulu.
Awang Tengah menjelaskan, kerajaan mengambil masa yang lama sebelum membuat keputusan untuk memulakan kerja-kerja penakungan air di Empangan Bakun yang bermula pada 13 Oktober lalu.
“Mengikut kajian sebelumnya, kerajaan mengandaikan ketika ini musim hujan, tetapi apa yang berlaku adalah sebaiknya. Ini adalah di luar jangkaan kita semua,” katanya kepada pemberita ketika ditemui di Rumah Rehat Song di sini, pagi semalam.
“Kita berharap agar hujan turun untuk mengelakkan keadaan menjadi lebih buruk.
“Tetapi kita akan tetap melepaskan air dari takungan dari semasa ke semasa untuk mengelakkan keadaan menjadi bertambah buruk,” tambah beliau lagi.
Beliau berkata sejumlah air juga telah dilepaskan daripada Empangan Bakun itu bagi mengekalkan paras di Sungai Rajang kepada 43 aras laut purata (MSL).
“Paras terendah yang dicatatkan adalah di antara Kapit dan Belaga iaitu pada 41 MSL. Walaupun bot ekspres dan bot kargo tidak dapat mudik ke Belaga namun sungai itu masih dapat dilalui oleh perahu,” katanya.
Awang Tengah berkata kerajaan negeri juga akan mendapatkan bantuan daripada kontraktor dan sektor swasta jika keadaan memerlukan.
Proses penakungan itu dijangka mengambil masa tujuh bulan dan dua minggu bagi mencapai paras ketinggian yang dikehendaki iaitu setinggi bangunan 44 tingkat meliputi kawasan seluas 69,000 hektar.
Sebelum itu, Residen Kapit, Dahim Nadot ketika ditemui untuk mengulas perkara yang sama, berkata kawasan yang paling teruk terjejas ialah dari kawasan Merit hingga ke hulu (ke pekan Belaga).
Katanya masalah paras sungai yang cetek dan deras ini telah menjejaskan perkhid-matan pengangkutan.
“Keadaan menyebabkan kos pengangkutan untuk menghantar bekalan makanan ke sekolah di kawasan yang terjejas telah meningkat tiga kali ganda berbanding waktu biasa,” katanya.
Tambahnya, kos ini meningkat kerana penghantaran perlu dilakukan melalui jalan kem pembalakan disebabkan bot ekspres tidak dapat beroperasi dan sukar untuk melalui beberapa bahagian terutama kawasan yang berjeram berikutan air Sungai Rajang yang semakin cetek.
Dahim berkata, pihaknya dalam proses menyiapkan laporan untuk memaklumkan kepada Jawatankuasa
Bencana Alam Negeri tentang ke-susahan yang dialami oleh penduduk yang berada di kawasan yang terjejas.
Sementara itu, dalam perkembangan lain, Awang Tengah berkata kajian yang lebih lanjut akan diadakan untuk mengetahui punca sebenar yang menyebabkan berlakunya kejadian himpunan kayu hanyut di sungai yang sama pada 7 Oktober lepas.
“Kajian awal kita menunjukkan hujan lebat merupakan antara sebab utama yang menyebabkan berlakunya kejadian tanah runtuh dan seterusnya mencetuskan fenomena tersebut.
“Namun kita menunggu hasil kajian yang lebih terperinci yang sedang dilakukan pada masa ini,” katanya
Sumber :BorneoPost Online
SONG: Kerja-kerja penaku-ngan air di Empangan Hidroelektrik Bakun (Empangan Bakun) tidak akan diberhentikan walaupun paras air di Sungai Rajang kini semakin cetek.
Menteri Perancangan dan Pengurusan Sumber II, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan berkata kerajaan mengambil keputusan untuk tidak menghentikan kerja-kerja penakungan air walaupun paras air sungai itu ketika ini semakin cetek, terutama di bahagian hulu.
Awang Tengah menjelaskan, kerajaan mengambil masa yang lama sebelum membuat keputusan untuk memulakan kerja-kerja penakungan air di Empangan Bakun yang bermula pada 13 Oktober lalu.
“Mengikut kajian sebelumnya, kerajaan mengandaikan ketika ini musim hujan, tetapi apa yang berlaku adalah sebaiknya. Ini adalah di luar jangkaan kita semua,” katanya kepada pemberita ketika ditemui di Rumah Rehat Song di sini, pagi semalam.
“Kita berharap agar hujan turun untuk mengelakkan keadaan menjadi lebih buruk.
“Tetapi kita akan tetap melepaskan air dari takungan dari semasa ke semasa untuk mengelakkan keadaan menjadi bertambah buruk,” tambah beliau lagi.
Beliau berkata sejumlah air juga telah dilepaskan daripada Empangan Bakun itu bagi mengekalkan paras di Sungai Rajang kepada 43 aras laut purata (MSL).
“Paras terendah yang dicatatkan adalah di antara Kapit dan Belaga iaitu pada 41 MSL. Walaupun bot ekspres dan bot kargo tidak dapat mudik ke Belaga namun sungai itu masih dapat dilalui oleh perahu,” katanya.
Awang Tengah berkata kerajaan negeri juga akan mendapatkan bantuan daripada kontraktor dan sektor swasta jika keadaan memerlukan.
Proses penakungan itu dijangka mengambil masa tujuh bulan dan dua minggu bagi mencapai paras ketinggian yang dikehendaki iaitu setinggi bangunan 44 tingkat meliputi kawasan seluas 69,000 hektar.
Sebelum itu, Residen Kapit, Dahim Nadot ketika ditemui untuk mengulas perkara yang sama, berkata kawasan yang paling teruk terjejas ialah dari kawasan Merit hingga ke hulu (ke pekan Belaga).
Katanya masalah paras sungai yang cetek dan deras ini telah menjejaskan perkhid-matan pengangkutan.
“Keadaan menyebabkan kos pengangkutan untuk menghantar bekalan makanan ke sekolah di kawasan yang terjejas telah meningkat tiga kali ganda berbanding waktu biasa,” katanya.
Tambahnya, kos ini meningkat kerana penghantaran perlu dilakukan melalui jalan kem pembalakan disebabkan bot ekspres tidak dapat beroperasi dan sukar untuk melalui beberapa bahagian terutama kawasan yang berjeram berikutan air Sungai Rajang yang semakin cetek.
Dahim berkata, pihaknya dalam proses menyiapkan laporan untuk memaklumkan kepada Jawatankuasa
Bencana Alam Negeri tentang ke-susahan yang dialami oleh penduduk yang berada di kawasan yang terjejas.
Sementara itu, dalam perkembangan lain, Awang Tengah berkata kajian yang lebih lanjut akan diadakan untuk mengetahui punca sebenar yang menyebabkan berlakunya kejadian himpunan kayu hanyut di sungai yang sama pada 7 Oktober lepas.
“Kajian awal kita menunjukkan hujan lebat merupakan antara sebab utama yang menyebabkan berlakunya kejadian tanah runtuh dan seterusnya mencetuskan fenomena tersebut.
“Namun kita menunggu hasil kajian yang lebih terperinci yang sedang dilakukan pada masa ini,” katanya
Sumber :BorneoPost Online
Labels:
Bakun,
Penakungan Bakun diteruskan,
Sarawak
08 August 2010
Bakun dam waiting for green light to start holding water
BELAGA: The construction of Bakun Hydroelectricity Dam is in its final stage and is expected to start impounding or holding water in its catchment areas after getting the green light from the state government’s Public Utilities Ministry.
Managing director of Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd, the owner of the world’s second largest concrete-faced rock-filled dam, Zulkifle Osman, said 96 per cent of the civil construction has been completed and the remaining four per cent is the final touch up on the mega structure.
“We have submitted applications for impounding permit in stages to the ministry and all the reports have been endorsed by the state’s consultants. We believe the permit will be issued soon.”
Before the impounding starts it will be explained it to the people in the area.
After the water level has reached the required level, the top 10 metres of water will flow through the intake outlet.
Water from the outlet will flow to the power station which houses the eight turbines. The top ten metres is to ensure that water flowing out to the other side is clear and without timbers.
Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated is entrusted to develop and manage the hydroelectric project since May 2, 2000. It was awarded the contract in 2002.
The civil engineer with vast experience in dam building explained that the holding of water flowing down the Balui River is done by shutting down the three diversion tunnels.
“The water will be held in the designated areas. It will take seven months to get the catchment areas under water. After the water has reached the right level, turbine number eight (one of eight turbines that can generate 300 megawatts of electricity), will become operational.
Later, all eight turbines will run non-stop for 20 hours per day with four hours of rest and then continue for 30 days.
This is aimed at enhancing the durability of the components inside the turbines.
Zulkifle said the dam could filter floating biomasses such logs along the more than 400-km Rejang River.
It can also mitigate flood as it is capable of controlling the flow of water during the monsoon (December to March) when the river often overflows its banks and inundate places such as Belaga, Kapit, Kanowit, Sibu, and Sarikei.
Zulkifle said the eight small islands in the catchment area could be utilised for eco-tourism and aqua-culture.
The Orang Ulu people in the area then can diversify their economic activities into operating small businesses, either selling products or providing services such as transportation.
Furthermore, he said, the natives would benefit from the good road connecting Bakun Dam to Bintulu.
On the recent media briefing at the dam site, he said it was aimed at giving a clearer picture about the dam in light of the numerous negative news reports by online news portal or bloggers. It was also for explaining social issues related to environmental impact and the resettlement of the natives displaced from their ancestral lands.
Source : BorneoPost Online
Managing director of Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd, the owner of the world’s second largest concrete-faced rock-filled dam, Zulkifle Osman, said 96 per cent of the civil construction has been completed and the remaining four per cent is the final touch up on the mega structure.
“We have submitted applications for impounding permit in stages to the ministry and all the reports have been endorsed by the state’s consultants. We believe the permit will be issued soon.”
Before the impounding starts it will be explained it to the people in the area.
After the water level has reached the required level, the top 10 metres of water will flow through the intake outlet.
Water from the outlet will flow to the power station which houses the eight turbines. The top ten metres is to ensure that water flowing out to the other side is clear and without timbers.
Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated is entrusted to develop and manage the hydroelectric project since May 2, 2000. It was awarded the contract in 2002.
The civil engineer with vast experience in dam building explained that the holding of water flowing down the Balui River is done by shutting down the three diversion tunnels.
“The water will be held in the designated areas. It will take seven months to get the catchment areas under water. After the water has reached the right level, turbine number eight (one of eight turbines that can generate 300 megawatts of electricity), will become operational.
Later, all eight turbines will run non-stop for 20 hours per day with four hours of rest and then continue for 30 days.
This is aimed at enhancing the durability of the components inside the turbines.
Zulkifle said the dam could filter floating biomasses such logs along the more than 400-km Rejang River.
It can also mitigate flood as it is capable of controlling the flow of water during the monsoon (December to March) when the river often overflows its banks and inundate places such as Belaga, Kapit, Kanowit, Sibu, and Sarikei.
Zulkifle said the eight small islands in the catchment area could be utilised for eco-tourism and aqua-culture.
The Orang Ulu people in the area then can diversify their economic activities into operating small businesses, either selling products or providing services such as transportation.
Furthermore, he said, the natives would benefit from the good road connecting Bakun Dam to Bintulu.
On the recent media briefing at the dam site, he said it was aimed at giving a clearer picture about the dam in light of the numerous negative news reports by online news portal or bloggers. It was also for explaining social issues related to environmental impact and the resettlement of the natives displaced from their ancestral lands.
Source : BorneoPost Online
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