Sarawak plans to build 12 hydroelectric dams to meet its future
industrialisation needs.
The move has got environmentalists up in arms, questioning the need for the dams
and the planned development of the state. They also suggested that Sarawak's
national park may be threatened.
However, Deputy Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Joseph Salang
Gandum said the dams were necessary to meet energy demands.
They will be located at Ulu Air, Metjawah, Belaga, Baleh, Belepeh, Lawas, Tutoh,
Limbang, Baram, Murum and Linau rivers. The plan will also see an extension to
the Batang Ai dam.
All these are in addition to the 2,400MW Bakun dam and will push the total
generating capacity in the state to 7,000MW by 2020, an increase of more than
600% from the current capacity.
The plans were in a presentation entitled Chinese Power Plants in Malaysia –
Present and Future Development in October last ...