Sarawak’s hydroelectric dam megaproject EIAs in limbo

By Zhang ML

Bernama reported recently  that the “Special Purpose Vehicle” (SPV) company, set up for the purpose of undertaking the transmission line project to supply electricity from Sarawak to west Malaysia, has been purchased by Tenaga Nasional Berhad and Sarawak Energy Berhad, for a sum of RM16 million. They are each to have a 50% stake in the SPV.

It was also reported that 77 percent of the undersea high-voltage transmission line is planned to run across the sea bed of the South China Sea across Indonesian waters or territory.

The agreed price was said to have been arrived at after considering advances that had been made by Sime Darby to the SPV for the purpose of project studies, including the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the undersea cable.

Green Technology and Energy Minister announces electricity for all Sarawakians

By Apang @ HUeditor

Peter Anak Chin, the Minister of Green Technology and Energy today announced that Sarawak’s energy need will increase some seven-folds from the current usage by 2020. The minister from Myri denied speculation that the increase is due to the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) and its master plan that includes selling energy to Sarawak’s neighbours.

“With Malaysia still on track to achieve Mahathir 2020, in which Sarawak will be the most developed state within the Federation of Malaysia, all longhouses and every remote settlements within Sarawak will be powered up by SCORE,” proudly announced the Minister as the reason for the seven-folds increase in electricity demand.

The minister admits that “For too long now, Sarawakians have been denied the very basic need of electricity and for too long, we have denied the rural people’s rights to basic service.”