Remote villages to get own micro hydropower systems

Local Sarawak and sabah communities, as shareholders, will manage and operate the power stations

KUCHING: Remote villages in Sarawak, Sabah and in peninsular Malaysia will soon have electricity generated by micro hydropower systems operated by the local communities.

Rural and Regional Development Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal said the project to be implemented next year with government allocation will have the local community as shareholders who will manage and operate the power station.

“This concept of electricity supply to rural areas is based on simple technology and community involvement via cooperative has been proven successful in terms of lower operating costs.

“It is quite comprehensive and not just based on electricity supply. The project will also ensure a revenue for the cooperative which will then be distributed to the community in the form of educational and welfare aid,” he said after visiting a micro hydro power station in Kampung Cinta Mekar, Subang in West Java, Indonesia, yesterday.

Shafie was confident that the micro-hydro electricity supply system would benefit people in areas with many rivers especially in the interior of Sarawak.

The micro-hydro power stations are expected to benefit 47 villages in Sarawak and 29 villages in Sabah.

He said that each power station would have the capacity to produce 200 kilowatts of electricity which can supply power to 400 houses.

During his visit to Cinta Mekar micro hydro power station, Shafie was briefed by representatives from Koperasi Mekarsari.

The project in Indonesia is an initiative of the People’s Institute of Business and Economy (IBEKA), Hidropiranti Inti Bhakti Swadaya (private company) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).