BINTULU, Sept 27 — Sarawak Energy Berhad’s (SEB) largest hydropower construction project, the Murum Hydroelectric Dam, about 200 kilometres away in Murum in interior Belaga, was officially declared open today.
Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud declared open the RM4.1 billion dam capable of supplying up to 944MW of “sustainable, renewable and affordable” energy for the state.
Abdul Taib was joined by Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem, SEB chairman Datuk Amar Hamed Sepawi and its chief executive officer Datuk Torstein Dale Sjotveit and others at the function held at the plant site.
Also present were state cabinet ministers, elected federal and state representatives, government officials, community leaders, residents of the Murum Resettlement Area (for about 1,400 people affected by the project) and other invited guests.
The Murum Dam is also SEB’s second hydroelectric dam after the Batang Ai in the Sri Aman Division.
According to SEB, the Murum “marks further success” in the state development strategy in becoming a high income society by 2030.
Its construction was carried out by the Three Gorges Development Company (M) Sdn Bhd, in 2008.
Its completion allows the state government to reduce electricity tariffs for domestic, commercial and industrial non-SCORE (Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy) last year.
Sarawak-based customers now enjoy the lowest rates in the nation and among the lowest in the region.
Designwise, the Murum, a 100 per cent Sarawak state government-owned project, has also the world tallest steeped chute spillway at 141 meters high. — Bernama
