KUCHING: Micro hydropower is the better alternative to electricity from the grid for some longhouses in Julau due to their scattered populations.

Julau MP Datuk Joseph Salang also said having no access to power lines made micro hydropower the better option in this situation.

He said using hydropower was also cheaper and better than using other renewable sources of energy including solar.

“Aside from providing the remote longhouses with cheap 24-hour electricity, micro hydro dam also helps conserve the forest upstream,” he said Monday.

Earlier, he launched the tagang system in Sungai Sugai at Rumah Anthony Bau, Ulu Mulok, Julau.

He said the 1Malaysia Advisory Council had so far funded the construction of two micro hydropower dams in his constituency, which were already in full operation. The two dams are located at Rumah Michael Jantan, Nanga Bekatan and at Rumah Jawang, Bukit Sri.

Salang, who is 1Malaysia Sarawak Advisory Council chairman, said both dams were built through gotong-royong by the villagers themselves, under the supervision of Public Works Department.

Each project required at least RM350,000 if build through gotong-royong, depending on the location and distance.

The 10kw micro hydro dam at Rumah Michael is said to be benefitting about 200 residents.

It is located about two-minute longboat ride from the longhouse and about 60km from Sibu.

“On good and sunny days, the people enjoy 24-hour electricity while on rainy days they have
to ration,” he said.

Salang said micro hydropower, in fact, had great potential in Sarawak in view of its many rivers and streams in rugged terrains.

On the request of the headman (Anthony Bau) for the government to build a micro hydropower dam in his village, Salang said he was prepared to discuss the matter with the village committee.

“But first of all, you must identify the river where you want to build the dam. The river must have the potential to have this kind of sustainable energy,” he said.

Micro hydropower is capable of producing electricity from 1kw to about 200kw.