Bakun Dam - its big, but how much are we getting?

Bakun, bakun, bakun.. its big and really big! Its as big as the island of Singapore. Now that’s huge. The investment by the government are all huge.. all are billions. The announcement was also grand.

But some of the rakyat (including me) are not sure of how much are we actually getting from the sales of power to the West Malaysians. When the government inked the 5% of oil and gas revenue are to be given to Sarawak, only those who inked it knows about the percentage of sales figure.

What will be the revenue for Sarawak like? Ohh.. please, do not talk about foreign investment because its theirs to make. What is the margin for us? From the tax we collect, what is there for Sarawakian?

Are we going for the same direction with our natural resources too? While most of the rural population can only share the success name of Batang Ai Hydro Project, how many of the rakyat are actually benefiting from it?

Well, the power lines are clearly visible from my longhouse, but we are still not enjoying the benefit of cheap power source. To make matter worst, the subsidized diesel are targetted for the Malay fishing industry. Did they extend it to our generator sets?

Billion nam ko Abau.. The government is going to spend billions to light up the West Malaysians home, factories, etc.. and we in Sarawak, just keeping burning our lamp, generator sets, and enjoy the small token sum paid via land requisition for development at the rates of NCR land.

They said its transparent.. the reality is - the next thing you know, its done!

Extract from the Borneo Post

Power to peninsula by 2013

Bakun expected to be operational by 2010 will start transmitting electricity too Peninsular Malaysia by 2013: Salang

BINTULU: The Bakun hydro-electricity dam project, about 180km from here, will start to transmit power to Peninsular Malaysia by 2013, said Deputy Minister of Energy, Water and Communications Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum.

Salang, who visited the project over the weekend, told reporters here the RM3.2 billion project was expected to be operational by 2010.

He said Bakun would transmit about 100 megawatt (MW) to the state grid through the Similajau HVDC (high voltage direct current) lines which would be ready by next year.

“By 2013 it is expected to begin transmitting 1,600MW to Peninsular Malaysia via the 676-km submarine cables across the South China Sea,” he said after being briefed on the project by Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd managing director, Zulkifle Osman, here Sunday.

Salang said the project would initially operate with three of its eight turbine generators, each with 300MW capacity, and would use the rest as more water was available in the reservoir area.

The 695 sq km reservoir is almost as big as Singapore, he said.

Salang said the civil works for its wall, spillway (to flush out excess water), power intake, power tunnels and powerhouse were expected to be completed by June 2010.

“The process of draining water into the dam is expected to begin on Nov 21 this year. The dam will be filled in 18 months,” he said. He said the ministry would seek the Foreign Ministry’s help to get Indonesia’s permission to allow the submarine cables to pass through its waters.

Salang said the Bakun project was attractive because it provided sustainable energy source. Earlier, Zulkifle said the 205-metre Bakun dam would be the second highest rockfill dam in the world after the Shibuya dam in China.

“But Bakun will be the most beautiful dam. It will have six islands and will offer immense eco-tourism potentials,” he said.

He said Sarawak Hidro would apply to the state government for the extension of its generating licence from 30 to 60 years and its land lease tenure for the minimal 60 years as well.