Dec 17 2010
Sarawak Energy (SEB) is planning to complete six more hydro electricity dam projects other than the RM 3 billion Murum and the RM 7.4 billion Bakun dams before the year 2020.
According to Torstein Dale Sjotveit, CEO of SEB, these additional projects would add 6000 to 7000 MW capacity and lead to the production of almost 35000 to 40000 GW hours of energy. He further revealed during an annual dinner hosted by SESCO, a subsidiary of SEB, that this was around nine times more than the current production, and would make SEB the leader of renewable energy by 2020 in Southeast Asia.
According to Sjotveit, clean energy would help in developing the growing domestic markets, establish new major industries and also facilitate export to adjoining countries such as Indonesia and Brunei. The energy produced from the Bakun dam was to be used for the State’s economic growth. He disclosed that this dam would function from the next year. He also mentioned that SEB on the behest of the state government was in the middle of a challenging confrontation with the federal government for successfully taking over the Bakun dam.
The diversion tunnel of the Murum dam was finished and the main dam construction was taking place. Sjoveit remarked that with regard to the other projects, SEB had conducted negotiations with 20 probable energy customers in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy, and also said that they were achieving a price offer which was 25 to 40% more than what was offered the previous year. Furthermore, he also stated that deals with four new clients were to be concluded in addition to the Mukah Press Metal and Kuching’s MEMC branch.