Ecological Power Station
To meet Environmental Impact Assessment ( EIA ) requirements , an ecological flow of 8m 3 / s is required to ensure that the ecosystem of the upper reach of the Murum River between the dam and the downstream power station is sustained . An ecological power station was developed to meet this requirement and at the same time generate electricity . It houses two 3.75MW horizontal shaft Francis turbines with a total installed capacity of 7.5MW ( see Figure 21 ).
RESETTLEMENT
Based on the Social and Environmental Impact Assessment ( SEIA ) study which commenced in 2009 , a total of seven communities comprising 1,302 Penan ( 335 households ) and 113 Kenyah Badeng ( 18 households ) in Plieran , Seping and Danum would be affected by the Murum HEP .
After extensive consultation , the seven affected communities identified and confirmed their choice of the two resettlement sites at Metalun and Tegulang and provided input on the location and facilities of their new longhouses . The relocation process was successfully completed on December 2 , 2013 .
View of the Murum resettlement area
IMPOUNDMENT AND POWER GENERATION
Once the main civil works were completed , the reservoir was impounded on September 21 , 2013 , i . e . the diversion tunnel was closed to allow the reservoir to fill . On November 25 , 2014 , over a year later , the reservoir reached its full supply level .
While the reservoir was filling , installation and commissioning of the generating equipment commenced . The four Francis turbines , each capable of generating 236MW , were carefully installed . When the reservoir reached the generation minimum operating level on March 29 , 2014 , the turbines were tested and commissioned under real operating conditions . The first turbine was declared fit and ready for commercial operation on Christmas Day 2014 , and the Murum HEP began delivering regular power to consumers . On June 8 , 2015 , the fourth and final turbine was declared fully operational .
Murum Power Generation |
Max . Installed Capacity |
944MW |
Firm Generation Capacity |
635MW |
Firm Annual Energy Generation |
5,782GWh |
CONCLUSION
The power demand in the State of Sarawak is expected to increase rapidly , predominantly because of the on-going development of energyintensive industries in the State via SCORE . The core of the corridor is the development of energy resources , based on hydropower generation to meet the power demand in Sarawak in the long term .
The Murum HEP is a valuable addition to energy production and contributes further to the Sarawak Government ’ s SCORE agenda , to attract energy intensive industries to the state , providing job opportunities , transferable skills and other benefits that drive Malaysia ’ s economy particularly for Sarawak .
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