Human rights groups fret over fate of protesting Penans at Murum Dam site

BY STEPHEN THEN

A police blockade being set up at the entry point into Murum Dam after more than 200 Penans staged a protest against the Murum hydro-electric dam project. - Pic by Raymond Abin

MIRI: Human rights activists are worried over the fate of some 200 Penans protesting at the Murum Dam site in interior central Sarawak who are running out of food.

Police have "cordoned off" the area near where the protesters are camping.

Representatives of Borneo Resources Institute (Brimas) and Society for Rights of Indigenous People of Sarawak (SCRIPS) were in Murum the last few days to visit the Penans but found themselves unable to enter.

Brimas state coordinator Raymond Abin and SCRIPS secretary Michael Jok went there on separate occasions and told The Star Online that they were stopped from passing through the police barricade.

Jok, a former Catholic priest turned social activist, said on Monday that he and several officials were trying to deliver food to the Penans.

"Police have set up a roadblock preventing people from entering the Murum Dam site where the Penans are protesting against a hydro-electric project.

"We went into Murum in two 4WD vehicles filled with food rations over the past week. We wanted to give the food to the Penans, who are manning the blockade day and night.

"However, the access road leading to the protest site has been barricaded by a police team at the entry point.

"We have to leave the food at the place where the police blocked the road with a makeshift barricade.

"We asked the police to help get in touch with some of the protesting Penans to come and get the food.

"They agreed to that arrangement," Jok said after he made his way out of Murum, which is about 300kms from Bintulu town.

Abin said he took pictures at the police barricade.

"I tried to pass through the police blockade but was told that nobody is allowed in unless with permission for official business.

"I heard that the protesting Penans may set up blockades at other points along the road into the Murum Dam soon.

"They may be tired and hungry but they are determined to fight for their cause even though they are facing harsh weather conditions staying in makeshift camps," he said.

The Penans are from the remaining four settlements in the Murum Valley who are protesting the move to uproot them to resettlement schemes.

So far, three groups of Penans and Kenyahs have already agreed to move out of Murum Valley to the Tegulang Resettlement Scheme.

Abin and Jok appealed to the state government to again look into the grouses of the remaining Murum Penans who have yet to agree to the relocation plan.

Murum is located some 550km south of Miri and the protests there are by the Penans.

In Ulu Baram, the protests are being staged by more than 300 natives from the Kenyah, Kayan and Penan communities against the proposed Baram Dam site located between Long Kesseh and Long Naah some 200km inland from Miri.

The Star Online Published: Tuesday November 5, 2013 MYT 9:47:00 AM 

Baram Dam protests escalate, assemblyman asks for cooling off period

BY STEPHEN THEN

Workers with their packed bags waiting to leave in boats after they were prevented from entering the dam site by protesting natives.

MIRI: A Barisan Nasional politician wants a temporary halt to ground testing and survey works at the proposed Baram hydro-electric dam site in interior northern Sarawak due to escalating protests and blockades staged by the natives.

Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau, who is Barisan Youth chief for Baram, told The Star Online the situation is "very hot" on the ground with the protesting natives showing unrelenting aggression. He is worried the situation will boil over into a physical confrontation.

Ngau wants a cooling period while he and other local Barisan politicians find a way out of this latest dispute that has threatened to turn into a serious political and social issue.

"Stop all ground works for the time being until further notice. Don't confront the protesters. Leave it to us politicians to find a solution," Ngau advised workers and contractors who are carrying out rock drilling between Long Naah and Long Kesseh some 200kms inland from Miri City.

Ngau said he has advised workers of Sarawak Energy Bhd and officials from the state Land and Survey Department to stay away from the site for now.

"These workers have left the area. They were advised not to confront the protesting natives.

"I have asked the community leaders in Long Naah and Long Kesseh and surrounding villages to cool down the protesters.

"The best thing now for all parties is for a cooling period to set in. The workers should not attempt to force their way past the protesters.

"The protesters are very aggressive and I am worried if there is physical confrontation.

"I and Baram MP Anyi Ngau are trying to arrange for an urgent meeting with all the relevant people, including the community leaders, to find a way out of this.

"I hope to get in touch with all of the native leaders within the next few days and get them to come down to Miri City where we can discuss things in a rational and calm manner.

"I would like to go into ulu Baram and meet the protesters if possible, but indications are that they will not listen and will not negotiate.

"For now, I think it is best to stay away until they have cooled down," he said of the latest situation in ulu Baram.

Environmental groups, Save Sarawak Rivers and Baram People's Action Committee, told The Star that the protesting natives who have set up blockades in Long Kesseh and the main road leading to the dam site, are reinforcing their barricades and blocking every roads to the dam site.

Save Sarawak Rivers' chairman Peter Kallang said another blockade at Long Lama was also being set up.

"No construction materials and equipment or vehicles are allowed to enter. At the dam site, the protesters are expelling every worker they find.

"Some of the workers and surveyors who were chased away tried to come back to the area, but were stopped at the blockades," he said.

Baram People's Action Committee chairman Philip Jau said the natives, numbering more than a hundred at each of the blockade sites, were made up of villagers, both women and men.

"We are staying day and night and manning the blockades 24 hour non-stop. We will camp out at the blockade sites for as long as needed," he said, adding that there is no other option for the natives but to make sure that they stop every ground work before the dam construction starts.

The proposed Baram Dam is one of 11 new dams that are being planned by the state government throughout Sarawak.

The Baram Dam will uproot at least 20,000 natives from the Kenyahs, Kayans and Penans ethnic groups.

Kallang, Jau and several human rights lawyers and environmental activists had written an appeal to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, asking the world body to stop the dam from being built.

Dry spell hits Bakun area

Tuesday August 23, 2011

By STEPHEN THEN
stephenthen@thestar.com.my

MIRI: The water in the Bakun hydroelectric dam reservoir has not risen to the level that was initially predicted because the area has been hit by a dry spell.

Managing director of Sarawak Hidro, which manages the dam, and chief engineer Zulkifle Osman told The Star yesterday that it had been an uncharacteristically dry month.

“The rainfall for the whole month was not what we had expected. We expected more rain, but since the start of August, we have been badly hit by a dry spell. On Aug 20, only one millimetre (mm) of rain fell throughout Bakun region,” he said.
Too little rain: Water released from a diversion tunnel of the dam in this file pic.

“The day before, only 4.5mm rainfall was recorded. On Aug 16, there was 41mm (4.1cm) of rain. For the rest of August, there was zero rain. The rainfall combined on the three days when it rained was very little as compared to the normal rainfall.

“And spread over such a huge reservoir, the three days of rain did not make any difference at all to the water level. That is why there was hardly any difference to the water intake for the turbines.

“The amount of water we could release from the Bakun Dam into the downstream area was only limited to the amount of water coming out from the lone turbine that is in operation now.

“There is no water coming down the spillway because we cannot reach that level yet. Only once we have reached the 214-metre level at the Bakun reservoir can the water flow down the spillway into the Rajang River and downwards to Belaga, Kapit and Sibu.

“The current water level at the reservoir is 207m and it has not changed because of the lack of rain.”

Zulkifle said that if the reservoir kept receiving zero rainfall or little rain, there was no way the water level downstream of the dam could rise.

On whether this dry spell was foreseen, he said it was unpredicted.

On whether the stagnant level had affected the functioning of the turbine generator, he said that had not been the case because the water could still flow down into the power generation house.

As long as the water could flow down, the electricity-generation process could go on, he said.

Zulkifle, when asked whether cloud-seeding could be carried out over Bakun, said the idea had not yet been discussed with the authorities.

On the amount of rain forecast over Bakun for the next few days, he said the weather would still be dry.

On the river transportation woes downstream of Bakun, he said the Kapit and Belaga local authorities had not informed him that those woes were directly caused by the dry spell in Bakun.

He said the low river levels downstream of Bakun might be a result of a combination of dry spells in other parts of central Sarawak, not just because of the lack of water coming down from the Bakun Dam.

The dry spell over Bakun and central Sarawak is rather strange because in northern Sarawak, especially Miri, there was occasional moderate to heavy rain during the past week.

Bakun Dam saga enters next chapter

20 April 2011

Behind The News - Yap Leng Kuen

Should project be viewed as a business deal or part of state development?

THE protracted story of the Bakun Hydroelectric Dam project, instead of ending soon, may be just going into its next chapter.

The latest saga in the tariff pricing disagreement between Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd, owner and developer of the dam, and Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB), the offtaker and state utility board, is entering its fourth scenario.

The first round of talks just after the completion of the dam looked at its possible sale or lease; subsequently, Sarawak expressed its intention to buy over the dam.

News surfaced recently that the sale of Bakun was off and that it would be operated on a joint-venture basis.

The latest is that SEB has proposed to buy a 30% stake in the project.

The power negotiations too have undergone three changes from earlier suggestions of flat to escalating tariffs. Currently, the offer is for a starting tariff of six sen per KwH.

In February this year, SEB had indicated it was willing to pay six sen per kwh but Sarawak Hidro said it needed a flat rate of 9.5 sen per kwh on a 30-year concession.

On an escalating basis, SEB had offered 5.4 sen per kwh at 1.5% per annum (inclusive of a one sen water tariff to the state); Sarawak Hidro had countered with 6.75 sen per kwh, also at 1.5% per annum.

The power purchase agreement (PPA) negotiations went on a rocky path last month with different instructions from the state and federal governments. Early last month, the PPA talks were ordered off by the state and later in the same month, the federal government expressed the desire for the PPA to be concluded as soon as possible.

The question here is whether the Bakun Dam project should be viewed as a purely business deal or part of the socio-economic development of Sarawak?

As a business deal, the Government should make every effort to recover its investments.

If it wants to play its developmental role, it may consider taking a hit and absorbing some losses while helping Sarawak to achieve its industrial goals.

Under the study conducted by PwC, it is believed that the Bakun project is valued at between RM8bil and RM10bil; however, Sarawak's latest tariff offer of six sen per kwh values it at only RM6bil.

In contrast, coal-fired tariffs cost 28 sen per kwh.

Some ask if giving a hefty discount is justified, as more expensive dams are coming up. They say it is not fair that power from Bakun has to be sold cheaply to subsidise the construction of these additional dams.

Others want to know why the cost of transmission via the new grid system is much higher, at over four sen per kwh compared with the cost of only one sen in the peninsula.

Sarawak has said it needs 6.000MW-7,000MW of power by 2020. Bakun has a capacity for 2,400MW and Murum is able to produce 944MW.

Others still pose questions on why polluting industries should take advantage of the cheap, clean power from Bakun.

These heavy industries located in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) have rebutted that they use advanced technology that do not pose a threat to the environment.

Scare tactics have been used which speculated on the possibility that the Bakun Dam project could end up being a white elephant if industries were not attracted to soak up the power at competitive rates.

Looking at the power requirements of Peninsular Malaysia beyond 2015, this power from Bakun may be transmitted back to the peninsula. Is it worth it to revive the idea of building the undersea transmission line especially in the wake of the nuclear scare and the limit on Malaysia's carbon footprint under the now expired Kyoto Protocol?

Already the pressure is on to conclude the tariff negotiations. Sarawak has signed non-binding agreements with four companies to supply power. Their plants are at the preliminary stages of planning and construction.

Source: The Star Online

URL: http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/4/20/business/8516081&sec=business

Bakun hydro project to be joint venture

By JACK WONG
jackwong@thestar.com.my

13 April 2011

KUCHING: The Bakun hydro dam, which is expected to produce its first 300MW in three months, will become a joint venture between the Federal and Sarawak governments, said Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

He did not, however, reveal what would be Sarawak government's stake in the dam, which could produce up to 2,400MW when fully operational.

The dam is now owned by the Federal Government through Finance Minister Inc.

The Sarawak government has offered to take over the dam's ownership for RM7bil after the Federal Government agreed to sell it last year as the plan to transmit the electricity to the peninsula via underwater submarine cables was scrapped.

From left: Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, Tokuyama vice-president Toshiki Nakamura, Press Metal chairman Datuk Paul Koon, State Planning Unit director Datuk Ismawi Ismuni and State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohammad Morshidi Abdul Ghani after the signing.

“The Prime Minister has assured me and the state government that all the Bakun power will be given to industries in Sarawak,'' Taib said at the signing of power purchase agreement (PPA) term sheet between state-owned Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) and four major investors in energy-intensive industries in Samalaju Industrial Park in Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) here yesterday.

The four investors were Press Metal Bhd, Japan's Tokuyama Corp, Hong Kong-based Asia Minerals Ltd and Singapore's OM Materials, which is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.

Press Metal will set up a new aluminium smelter while Asia Minerals and OM Materials will each invest in a manganese smelter. Tokuyama's plant will produce polycrystalline silicon for solar panels.

Taib said the 944MW Murum dam project, now under development by SEB, would be operational in 2014, and that more dams would be built.

“For the (proposed) Baram and Pelagus dam projects, all the technical studies have been done. The Baram dam project will be a joint venture with Brunei.

“We (Sarawak) will have 6,000MW to 7,000MW (hydro power) by 2020,” he added.

The proposed Baram dam in northern Sarawak is expected to generate about 1,000MW while the Pelagus dam in the upper reaches of the Rejang River basin, where the Bakun and Murum dams are located, will generate about 900MW.

SEB, which has plans to develop several smaller dams, will export electricity to Brunei and Sabah.

Taib said the state had some 500,000 coal resources which could be exploited to produce electricity.

Source: The Star Online

URL: http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?sec=business&file=/2011/4/13/business/8468803

Tariff deal to materialise soon for S’wak Hidro, S’wak Energy

4 May 2011

KUCHING: Recent news flow on the power tariff negotiations between Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd (Sarawak Hidro) and Sarawak Energy Bhd (Sarawak Energy) has been positive – implying that a deal could be on the cards soon.

According to a report, a power purchase agreement (PPA) between both parties would likely be signed in two months.

Both federal and state governments were believed to have reached a pact on tariffs for power off-take from the Bakun damn earlier last week.

It was likely to be between Sarawak Energy’s starting rates of six sen per kilowatt hour (KwH) and seven sen per KwH as requested by Sarawak Hidro, the owner and developer of Bakun dam. By extension, this would place the valuation of the RM7.5 billion Bakun dam to be somewhere between RM6 billion and RM8 billion.

At seven sen per KwH, Sarawak Hidro’s valuation was in line with the findings of a recent study by PriceWaterhouseCoopers – which valued Bakun at between RM8 billion and RM10 billion.

It was also reported last month that Sarawak Energy had proposed to take up a 30 per cent stake in the Bakun project for RM1.3 billion, RM700 million of which would likely be via equity injection and the balance RM650 million coming from shareholders’ loan. By extension, this implied a valuation of RM6 billion based on a Sarawak Energy’s offer of six sen per KwH.

Furthermore, AmResearch Sdn Bhd (AmResearch) gathered the 2,400 megawatt (MW)-Bakun dam was ready to supply its first 300MW of power by July.

“Sarawak Energy has moved quickly to sign PPA term sheets with four companies – Press Metal Bhd (Press Metal), OM Materials, Asia Minerals Ltd and Tokuyama Corp. These first batches of companies are expected to consume a combined 1,300MW for their respective plants, to be located at Samalaju Industrial Park in Bintulu.

“This was quickly followed by an agreement between Gulf International Investment Group Holdings Sdn Bhd and Aluminium Corp of China to set up an US$1.5 billion aluminium smelter in Similajau. The smelter is expected to take up 600MW of power initially based on a production capacity of 370,000 tonnes,” stated AmResearch in its sectoral update report.

The research house’s ground checks indicated that Sarawak Aluminium Smelting Sdn Bhd – a joint-venture between Rio Tinto Alcan and the Cahya Mata Sarawak group – could be a third player to set up an aluminium smelter in Similajau.

“The smelter is expected to consume between 900MW and 1,200MW of power against an annual capacity of up to 720,000 tonnes,” said AmResearch.

The research house continued to favour Press Metal as an early beneficiary of crystallisation of long-term power supply with Sarawak Energy. To be sure, the group is currently the only direct play on the commissioning of Bakun dam.

AmResearch pointed out that Press Metal’s recent capital raising manoeuvres positioned the group to embark on Phase Two of its expansion programme that could potentially triple capacity to 360,000 tonnes by end-2012.

Source: Borneo Post Online

URL: http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=127687

'No money for roads, water, but can afford Bakun Dam'

By FMT Staff

KUCHING: The tough geographical terrain and scattered population in Sarawak are not the main reason why it is difficult to develop infrastructure in the rural areas.

Second Minister of Planning and Resource Management Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said the key reason is “financial constraint”.

He said both the federal and state governments are aware of the necessity to provide basic infrastructure and utilities such as water and roads to the rural areas, but their efforts were hampered by money -- or the lack of it.

“We have financial limitations. Sarawak has a vast and tough geographical terrain and sparsely populated areas is a typical scenario.

“As such, we have to carry out infrastructural development in stages and based on priorities. We have to be fair to all,” he told reporters recently.

But Awang Tengah’s admission of “financial constraints” is being viewed with sarcasm and distrust.

A local teacher, who declined to be named, urged Awang Tengah to “find a new line” to convince people.

“We have heard this story many many times before… two thirds of Sarawak is without water, electricity and roads...

“But (Chief Minister) Taib (Mahmud) has money to buy Bakun Dam and properties everywhere...,” said the teacher, referring to Taib’s announcement last week that the Sarawak government will seek to buy over the RM7.3 billion Bakun hydro-electric dam from the federal government.

'Stop lying'

The 2,400 megawatt dam is owned by Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd, which in turn is controlled by the federal government.

The teacher demanded to know why the state government is experiencing “financial constraints when Sarawak has ample wealth to develop itself”.

“They (federal and state governments) have taken us for a very costly ride...

"All our money in assessments and taxes have not gone towards developing this state... It has gone into personal coffers.

"The government should just stop lying to the people,” he said, referring to widely read reports of Taib’s international property portfolio worth billions of ringgit and his most recent purchases in Stampin.

The teacher said Taib and Sarawak BN have ruled for well over two decades yet two-thirds of the state lived in abject poverty with no or little decent housing, employment, sanitation and infrastructure development.

"If this was a new administration, I can accept ridiculous arguments like tough terrain... this is BN; it has everything but do little or nothing," the teacher said.

Source: Free Malaysia Today
URL: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/fmt-english/politics/sabah-and-sarawak/9763-no-money-for-roads-water-but-can-afford-bakun-dam