Malaysia: Sarawak power producer inks deal with China firm for RM8b Baleh dam

Malaysia: Sarawak power producer inks deal with China firm for RM8b Baleh
dam

SEB Power Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of state-owned power provider Sarawak Energy
Berhad (SEB) today signed a contract with a Chinese and a local Sarawak
company for the construction of an RM8 billion Baleh dam in the Kapit
division.

China's Gezhouba Group Company Limited and Untang Jaya Sdn Bhd will
undertake the construction of the main civil works of the dam for RM3
billion.

With the signing of the contract, Gezhouba Group and Untang Jaya will start
with the design works soon.

The contract also includes the construction of the dam, intake structure,
spillway and penstocks.

The construction of the dam is scheduled to begin in October next year.

SEB group chief executive officer Sharbini Suhaili and executive
vice-president James Ung Sing Kwong signed on behalf of SEB Power while
Gezhouba Group was represented by its Malaysia representatives Xu Zhongguo
and Huang Mingxing.

Untang Jaya was represented by its director Micheal Jawa and managing
director Minor Panyau.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar James Jemut Masing, who is also the
state Minister of Infrastructure Development and Transportation, and SEB
chairman Datuk Amar Hamed Sepawi were present.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Hamed said the signing of the contract is
an avenue for sharing of expertise between Gezhouba Group and Untang Jaya.

"At the same time, it is also in line with SEB's aim to support the state's
initiatives to maximize local and Bumiputra content in its procurement and
contracts," he added.

He said the construction of Baleh dam is guided by the International
Hydropower Association's Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol and
ICOLD (International Commission on Large Dams).

Hamed said Gezhouba Group, an international company with an excellent track
record, has participated in more than 100 hydropower projects around the
world.

Located on the Baleh River about 95km upstream from the confluence with the
Rejang River in Kapit, Baleh dam will generate 1,285 megawatts of renewable
energy once the project is complete. The project is expected to be fully
commissioned in 2026.

The project will not involve any community resettlement although some
farmland is affected.

SEB's other dams are the 100-megawatts Batang Ai, 944-MW Murum, which was
completed last year, and the 2,400-MW Bakun, which was recently acquired by
the state government for RM2.5 billion from the federal government.

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Link to Original Article:
http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/sarawak-power-producer-in
ks-rm8b-deal-with-china-firm-for-baleh-dam#R5ZFmqpQP8PWWBU3.97

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com