No cascading dams unless go-ahead given

KUCHING: The Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government will not force the people to accept the construction of cascading dams to generate electricity in rivers in Sarawak, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of 2024 Leadership Forum in Langkawi today (Jan 28), he said such projects would only be implemented with the agreement of the local people, and it will start in Kapit.

Abang Johari said the people of Sungai Gat, Kapit had indicated that they were interested in facilitating the implementation of a cascading dam in the area and the due process of discussion would be carried out if a go-ahead was given.

“We start with Kapit and we do not force (on people),” he pointed out while explaining the conventional method of harnessing electricity from potential energy stored in large reservoirs of water would incur high social cost to the government and agencies concerned.

He reassured that the authorities would duly engage with the affected people to explain the concept and operation of cascading dams before proceeding with any construction.

Citing examples of cascading dams in Europe and Scandinavian countries, Abang Johari said such concepts of hydropower generation would not inundate large areas of land thus it might not require resettlement of people involved.

Meanwhile, he said Sarawak must optimise its energy resources either for export or spurring domestic growth by attracting foreign investment with an offer of competitive power tariff.

Abang Johari said now Sarawak had complete control of its power tariff with the takeover of Bakun Dam from the federal government and was able to determine the right tariff to attract investment.

He added that Sarawak would be exporting a maximum of one gigawatt of power to Singapore via a 700-km subsea cable to the republic of which the cost would be borne by the island’s power authority.

Abang Johari expressed his confidence that the availability of renewable and comparatively low power cost would propel Sarawak’s economic growth with the aim of becoming a developed economy by 2030.

Meanwhile, State Secretary Datuk Amar Abu Bakar Marzuki spoke earlier at the forum.

Also present were Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian.