SRI AMAN, March 17,2016: Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) is continuing to
electrify villages upstream of Batang Ai that are currently too remote to be
connected to its grid.
The most recent longhouses to be installed with the solar
home system (SHS) under Sarawak Energy CSR initiative is in Engkari.
The project comes under a RM3million commitment the power
developer and energy utility is spending in Batang Ai over the next few years
in social investment projects, in conjunction with its Batang Ai’s hydropower
station's 30th Anniversary celebration.
Bird’s-eye view of the installed solar panels lined up on
the rooftop of Rh Manggat, Menyang Taih, Batang Ai.
Sarawak Energy recently expanded the SHS initiative by
adding the solar freezer system (SFS) for each of the longhouses, to complement
the solar home system. This enables the communities to have communal
refrigeration to freeze some of their fresh food supply for later consumption.
Separate from the state's rural electrification scheme,
this initiative is being implemented under Sarawak Energy's corporate social
responsibility (CSR) programme to benefit project affected communities in
Batang Ai area.
SEB's Executive Vice President for Corporate Services,
Aisah Eden said: “SEB is planning to
extend this solar home project under this programme to the remaining villages
in Ulu Delok which will further benefit 53 households.
"This new technology which is green and sustainable
in nature is the best solution for areas which are currently not accessible to
the grid.
Dinner under solar powered lightings at Rh Kino after the
successful installation of the solar system. Picture right.
"We want to ensure that our Batang Ai neighbouring
communities benefit from our presence in this area, and we are guided by our
role as a Sustainability Partner of the International Hydropower Association.
"Although the power station was commissioned 30
years ago, we believe that we should continue to play an active role in the
Batang Ai communities so we may have a positive sustainability initiatives
legacy in this area," she explained.
The solar home system (SHS) project which is implemented
partly as a community-based project helps to extend electricity supply to
communities in remote areas where supply from the grid is unavailable due to
remoteness of these villages and the huge infrastructure costs involved.
Installation of the solar panels at one of the longhouses
in Batang Ai under the solar home system-Picture left
The implementation of the solar powered home system
reduces the dependency of these villages on diesel-powered generator sets which
were costly to operate and maintain.
The SHS is a friendly system which is easy to operate and
maintain. The daily operation of the SHS
and the monitoring of the power usage are carried out by the villagers
themselves with minimum support and periodic maintenance by Sarawak
Energy.
The implementation of this system helps to reduce the
monthly household expenditure spent by these villagers on fuel for diesel
generation.
The first phase of the project was implemented at Rh Kino
and Rh Manggat in Menyang in December 2014 in cooperation with the local
villagers.
Malcom Mussen Lamoh (4th from left) officiating the
solar home system at Rh Kino while Sarawak Energy’s Senior Manager for Research
and Development, Goh Chin Chai, Station Manager for Batang Ai Hydropower
Station, Encharang Ak Ngtingih and others looked on.Picture right
With this initial success and positive reception by the
villages, Phase II of the Solar Home System was expanded to a further three
off-grid villages in Nanga Jengin and Ulu Delok that consists of Rh Griffin, Rh
Jangong and Rh Ninting which were completed last month.
The first two phases have seen solar home systems (SHS)
successfully installed in 63 households, benefiting over 300 residents, at a
total cost of RM2 million.
The third phase of the project is now reaching Engkari
area where installation of the system will start next month for Rh. Brown, Ng.
Stapang which will benefit 16 households of 80 residents. This project is due
for completion by September this year.
The implementation of the CSR community based
electrification scheme is done through “gotong royong”, where Sarawak Energy
works hand in hand with the communities.
Villagers assisted in logistics such as transporting the
materials using their longboats to their respective villages, accessible only by
river. They also assisted in building sheds to house the communal solar freezer
system.
Trainings were provided to the communities to manage the
system and Sarawak Energy continues to provide technical support to ensure the
system operates efficiently.
The direct
participation of the villagers in this project helps to reduce costs and enable
Sarawak Energy to implement SHS to more villages.
In officiating the successful completion and handing over
of the first phase of the SHS project last month at Rh Kino, Batang Ai state
assemblyman Malcolm Mussen Lamoh expressed his appreciation to Sarawak Energy
for the initiative and hoped to work closely with the utility to light up more
villages in his constituency through this alternative power supply.
Speaking for the community of Rumah Kino, Tuai Rumah Kino
also expressed his appreciation to Sarawak Energy and said that the initiative
has significantly improve their lifestyle with the availability of electricity
from the SHS and also by having the solar powered freezer to maintain freshness
of their food supply.
Also present at the event were Sarawak Energy’s Station
Manager for Batang Ai Hydropower Station, Encharang Ngtingih and Senior.
Manager for Research and Development, Goh Chin Chai.
In addition to implementing the SHS and solar freezer
system at these villages, Sarawak Energy also carried out the re-wiring project
at the longhouses that were originally or form part of the Batang Ai
resettlement scheme under its current CSR initiative.
The house internal re-wiring scheme is an on-going
project in this area and is aimed at improving electrical safety of these
longhouses by upgrading or replacing the existing internal house wiring which
has lasted since the beginning of the Batang Ai HEP.
Sarawak Energy's CSR programmes in Batang Ai further
includes working with the Sarawak Forestry Corporation on the orangutan
conservation, and with the local villagers on annual log or debris clearing in
order to keep the rivers and lake safe for navigation as well as, educational
programmes with schools in the area.
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