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Old pipes in Demak Laut to be replaced

KUCHING: Work to replace old pipes in various areas under Demak Laut state constituency will be carried out in stages starting with Kampung Muara Tebas.   Demak Laut assemblyman Dr Hazland Abang Hipni said the state government had approved an early allocation of RM500,000, with field work beginning on July 9 and expected to be completed by the middle of next year. He said the current pipes were installed in the early 70s.   “If everything goes well, we expect the pipes to be fully replaced by the middle of next year as the replacement has been given a one-year period to complete and will be managed by the Public Works Department (JKR),” he said when surveying the project at Kampung Muara Tebas recently.   Dr Hazland said the new pipes would enable around 2,800 villagers in the village and its surrounding areas to enjoy clean water supply.   “The current pipe system is rusty and if the pipes are not replaced, it has the potential to cause outbreaks of diseases,” he said.   He pointed out that JKR will install better quality AB3P pipes measuring 150 millimetres compared to the old pipes measuring 101.6 millimetres (four inches).   “I will continue to request the state government to change all the pipes under Demak Laut constituency in the future as well,” he added. Read more:  http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/08/15/old-pipes-in-demak-laut-to-be-replaced/#ixzz2diwm8yfB

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Sarawak’s 7,000 mw energy to attract RM20b investments

KUCHING: Sarawak expects to produce 7,000 megawatt (MW) of electricity by 2020 which will attract some RM20 billion worth of investments, says Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) chief executive officer Torstein Dale Sjotveit.   He said most of the power supply will come from hydroelectric power (HEP) and the rest from coal-fired power stations.   “We are confident of producing some 7,000 MW of electricity in the next eight years that will attract some RM20 billion investment,” Torstein said at a media luncheon and briefing at a leading hotel here yesterday.   He added that most of the power would be derived from HEP dams such as Bakun, Murum, Pelagus, Baram, Limbang and Lawas.   “Electricity from these dams could easily reach 6,000MW and the remaining 1,000MW would come from coal-fired power stations in Mukah, Balingian and Ng Merit,” said Torstein.   He added that three of Bakun’s eight turbines were now harnessing electricity while the rest would be operational by end of the year.   As for Murum dam, he said it would be completed by end of this year. It was now 55 per cent completed. The impoundment of Murum dam was expected to be carried out by the beginning of next year, he said.   He said SEB would enhance its expertise on Murum dam by sending its staff for further training in China and Tasmania (Australia).   Torstein also disclosed that last year alone, SEB had signed term sheets with five major energy users namely Press Metal Bhd, OM Holding, Asia Mineral Ltd, Tokuyama Corp and PLN which required a total of 1,800 MW of electricity.   On another subject, Torstein said that Sarawak would host the International Hydro Association (IHA) World Congress from May 21-24 next year. It will bring together a range of key actors from all over the world.   Decision-makers and representatives from industry, civil society, international organisations and the financial sector will exchange views on energy, water and climate change and solutions that hydropower can provide for sustainable development. Read more:  http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/01/18/sarawaks-7000-mw-energy-to-attract-rm20b-investments/#ixzz1lJ5PsjGj

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SWB and Sesco must make sure permit has been issued before connecting water and power supply

SIBU: The Sibu Water Board (SWB) and Sarawak Electricity Supply Corporation (Sesco) have been told not to connect water and electricity supply to newly built residential houses or shophouses before the issuance of an occupation permit (OP) by the Sibu Municipal Council (SMC). Councillor Robert Lau Hui Yew, who is a member of SMC’s Building Control and Town Beautification Standing Committee, said so far the water board and Sesco had been working as independent bodies. “In the past few years, the council had organised dialogues with the water board and Sesco, and we had actually reached a verbal agreement to only supply water and electricity after SMC had issued the occupation permit,” Lau said at a press conference here. He said in the interest of the public, this verbal agreement should become official. “I hope housing developers and house owners will also support this move.” Lau said this when answering questions from reporters who asked him if the house belonging to murder victim Ling Tong Hock had been issued with the occupation permit. It was understood that Ling had moved into the house in 2008. SMC architect Abu Bakar Sepawi confirmed that a few blocks of houses, including the unit of terraced house owned by Ling, had not been issued with the permit because there were still problems with the engineering plans and that the building plans were still undergoing amendments. “Under normal procedure, we should satisfy ourselves by going to the site to check if everything is done in accordance with the approved building plan and the approved land before we issue the occupation permit,” Abu Bakar explained. He added that a support letter from the Fire and Rescue Department was also required. Abu Bakar said a solid partition wall which served as a fire breaker in the attic was compulsory in any linked residential houses and shophouses under the council’s building by-law. Meanwhile, SMC deputy chairman Daniel Ngieng said in their eagerness and haste to move into their new houses, many owners did not bother to wait for the developers to obtain the occupation permit. Ngieng said it was illegal to stay in a house without the permit and SMC had the authority to evict the occupants. “But is that what the people want? I am sure society would not like us to do that,” Ngieng said. He said the public should look at the recent murder of Ling, his two young children and mother in a proper perspective. “We should look at the real issue why this crime has happened. Crimes can be committed in any unsuspecting places by someone who is socially and emotionally sick,” Ngieng stressed. However, he was quick to clarify that by saying this he did not mean the council had deviated from its responsibility to safeguard public interests and to ensure all rules and regulations were complied with. To another question as to why the council had started collecting rates from Ling if his house was not fit for occupation, Ngieng explained that the rates were collected in lieu of the services provided, such as garbage collection, grass cutting, clearing of drains and provision of street lights.   http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?sec=sarawak&file=/2012/1/11/sarawak/10238559

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MCMC to build 114 towers in Sarawak

PAKAN: Malaysia Communications and MultiMedia Commission (MCMC) will build 114 communication towers statewide this year, said Deputy Minister of Information, Communications and Culture Datuk Joseph Salang yesterday.   This would include 10 towers within the Julau parliamentary constituency, he added. Speaking before the presentation of 200 1Malaysia netbooks to community leaders of the Pakan District at Rh.   Akun Engkarong in Supi Atas here, he said the towers would be 3G enabled.   The 10 towers allocated for his Julau constituency would allow about half of its inhabitants to enjoy cellular and internet coverage soon, he explained.   He also said the government would consider creating more WiFi villages and upgrading current broadband services in the constituency.   On another note, Salang said it was sad that some quarters still questioned the government’s decision to distribute netbooks to rural areas with no internet connectivity or power supply.   “If we wait until such places are connected, it will defeat the government’s continuous effort to narrow the digital divide.   “The rural folks can still use their netbooks for other purposes like records and account keeping or they can access the internet when they visit nearby towns or community broadband centres,” he said.   He also reminded the longhouse chiefs that the netbooks were not for their exclusive use, saying they were merely guardians of what belonged to the entire longhouse. — Bernama Read more:  http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/01/14/mcmc-to-build-114-towers-in-sarawak/#ixzz1kR5PveaZ

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Sarawak Energy in US$500mil deal to provide power to ferro-alloy plant

KUCHING:  Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) , the state's electricity provider, has signed a USD$500mil (RM1.51bil) to provide 500 megawatts of power for 20 years to  OM Materials (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd , which will be building a ferro-alloy smelting plant. This is the largest investment made by OMH which is a Singapore-based company. The company is a 80:20 joint venture between  OM Holdings (OMH) group and  Cahya Mata Sarawak Bhd (CMSB) . Thursday's signing of the power purchase agreement (PPA) with OM Sarawak came two weeks after SEB inked a similar agreement to provide 270MW to  Asia Mineral Ltd , another pioneer investor in Samalaju. SEB  chief executive officer Torstein Sale Sjotveit  said the 500MW would represent nearly 80% of the firm's supply from the 944MW Murum dam currently being built. Electricity for energy-intensive industries in Samalaju will first come from the 2,400MW Bakun dam. He said the inking of the PPAs had proven wrong critics who had claimed that there would be a glut of power in Sarawak. "SEB is committed to support and drive the SCORE (Sarawak Corridor for Renewable Energy) agenda. "Being a catalyst for investments in SCORE and the state, SEB provides quality and affordable power," added Sjotveit at the signing ceremony here. Chief  Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud  witnessed the event. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2012/2/2/nation/20120202122019&sec=nation

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Can SWB supply water to Tg Manis?

Minister of Public Utilities Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said the study would be undertaken by his ministry and the State Planning Authority (SPA).   “We want to ensure that there will be adequate (water) supply because Tanjung Manis is going to be the biggest halal-hub not only in the country but also in Southeast Asia,” he said at the board’s annual gathering here on Tuesday.   Awang Tengah, who is also Second Minister of Resource Planning and Management, said Sibu had no problem with fresh water supply as it got it source from the longest river in the country, the Rajang River.   He was confident this would be materialised with the commissioning of Salim Treatment Plant (Phase 2) and the upgrading of Bukit Lima Treatment Plant.   The two plants enabled SWB to provide water to the whole of Sibu to the tune of 195 million litres per day (MLD) against the demand of 119 MLD.   “This will ensure sufficient ‘spare’ capacity to last until 2020 based on normal (population) growth.   “It will give SWB ample time to plan for new expansion should there be a sudden surge in demand,” he said.   He added that there were quite a number of submissions and approvals given to the private sector for the opening of businesses in Tanjung Manis and the surrounding areas in Sibu with the completion of Tanjung Manis-Sibu road.   “Besides the halal-hub, Tanjung Manis will also see the expansion of the shipbuilding industry which means that more water will be required.”   Earlier, SWB general manager Daniel Wong Park Ing said the water tariff was still too cheap and structured in such a way that the domestic consumers were subsidised by the commercial and industrial users.   “For many years, SWB has been expanding into the rural areas but without much increase the number commercial or industrial users to subsidise them.   “It is causing severe financial strain on us,” he said.   Assistant Minister of Public Utilities Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi, Public Utilities Ministry’s permanent secretary Ubaidillah Abdul Latip, a political secretary to the Chief Minister Abu Seman Jahwie, Sibu Municipal Council chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King , his deputy Daniel Ngieng, Nangka assemblyman Dr Annuar Rapa’ee, Sibu Resident Sim Kok Kee, Sibu Rural District Council deputy chairman Clarence Ting and Kuching Port Authority chairman Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah were among those who attended the dinner. Read more:  http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/01/19/can-swb-supply-water-to-tg-manis/#ixzz1lJ6McHfp

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Water plant to cater to eight longhouses

LUBOK ANTU:  The water treatment plant here expected for completion next year will benefit about 20,000 people from eight longhouses in Lubok Antu district.   Public Utilities Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said the 18-month project would supply water to longhouses along Nango Bulo Road up to Lubok Antu Road and from Nanga Kesit to Merindun.   “This is good news as the project will end the problem of water shortage in the district,” he said.   His text of speech was read by Assistant Minister of Public Utility Datuk Sylvester Entri at the groundbreaking ceremony of the Lubok Antu Rural Water Supply project at Jalan Batu Kayan here yesterday.   Awang Tengah said the new treatment plant could supply up to 7.5 million litres of water per day compared to 3.0   million litres per day from the Sungai Lemanak water treatment plant.   A total of 14,770 people in Lubok Antu still depend on the river, rainwater, wells and other sources for their water.   “Hopefully, the new project can cater to the needs of people in Lubok Antu regardless of race, religion and political ideology,” he said. Also present at the function were Lubok Antu MP William Nyalau, Engkelili assemblyman Dr Johnical Rayong, Batang Air assemblyman Malcolm Mussen and others. Read more:  http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/01/22/water-plant-to-cater-to-eight-longhouses/#ixzz1lJ7BxsZ6

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SEB kaji naikkan kadar pampasan bagi projeknya

SIBU: Kadar bayaran pampasan tanah dan tanaman yang terlibat dengan pembinaan projek talian kuasa di negeri ini mungkin dinaikkan.   Pengurus Kanan (Way Leave) Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) Sipol Ambun berkata, lembaga pengarah sedang mengkaji kadar kenaikan tersebut. “Ini adalah berita baik untuk mereka yang terlibat dengan projek berkenaan,” katanya. Beliau berkata demikian semasa sesi dialog dengan pemimpin masyarakat tempatan di dewan serba guna Pejabat Daerah di Kanowit di sini.   Sipol berkata pelaksanaan projek itu akan dilakukan dalam dua fasa yang bermula dari Similajau di Bintulu hingga ke Nanga Tada di sini, iaitu kira-kira 200 kilometer (km).   Katanya, fasa kedua pula melibatkan jarak kira-kira 300 km iaitu dari Nanga Tada ke Tondong di Bau.   Di Nanga Tada, beliau menjelaskan, projek berkenaan akan melibatkan 24 rumah panjang dengan mengambil sumber kuasa daripada empangan hidroelektrik Bakun dan Murum.   Beliau juga menasihati mereka yang terlibat supaya menyuarakan sebarang ketidakpuasan hati sekiranya terdapat sebarang pertikaian.   “Jika boleh, cuba elakkan sebarang salah faham,” ujar beliau.   Sementara itu, Pegawai Tadbir (SAO) Negeri Jabang Juntan dalam ucapannya menasihati orang ramai supaya bekerjasama dengan agensi pelaksanaan.   Menurut beliau, ia bertujuan memastikan projek yang direncanakan dapat berjalan dengan lancar.   Antara yang hadir pada majlis itu ialah Pemanca Spencer Kudang dan Pegawai Jabatan Penerangan Kanowit Wan Mohd Zuki Wan Ismail. Read more:  http://www.theborneopost.com/2012/02/21/seb-kaji-naikkan-kadar-pampasan-bagi-projeknya/#ixzz1oJXZ3wrZ

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Daro water woes will be over soon, says rep

SIBU: Water supply problems in Daro will be resolved when construction of the RM79 million water treatment plant in Matu is completed.   Jemoreng assemblyman Abu Seman Jahwie said work on the proposed facility, which sits on 17 acres in Kampung Jemoreng, was “progressing smoothly”, and the plant would be capable of producing 10.5 million litres daily (MLD) of treated water. He assured that he and the Public Works Department (PWD) were monitoring the project closely. “There is no water supply problem in Matu, even with the increased consumption due to Ramadan and preparations for the coming Raya Aidil Fitri,” he told thesundaypost yesterday.   Kampung Nanga Besar villagers have complained of dry water taps since 2009. They had  to depend on the salty and brownish water from Sungai Nanga for their daily use.   Daro District Officer Shafie Ahmad told the  Borneo Post Adventure Team (BAT) III members on Friday that construction of the water treatment plant had been delayed. “The problem is that water to Kampung Nanga Besar is from Matu, not Daro. Before the water reaches the village, they are all used up by an oil palm plantation.   “The water supply from Matu is clearly not enough to meet the demand of both villagers and plantation,” said Shafie.   Abu Seman said: “The slight delay in the completion of the water treatment plant is due to floods previously, but the project is progressing smoothly. The laying of pipelines has been done.”   He said the plant would have a barrack and administrative office. Matu has a population of about 17,000 people. Read more:  http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/07/21/daro-water-woes-will-be-over-soon-says-rep/#ixzz2abKky7mb

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Punca sebenar gangguan elektrik diketahui dua bulan lagi

KUCHING: Punca sebenar gangguan sistem bekalan elektrik di negeri ini mungkin akan diketahui dalam tempoh dua bulan lagi.   Ketua Setiausaha Perbendaharaan Kementerian Kewangan Tan Sri Dr Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah berkata, kementerian telah melantik syarikat konsultan untuk menjalankan kajian menyeluruh tentang gangguan sistem bekalan elektrik di Sarawak.   Bercakap pada sidang media selepas merasmikan Majlis Konsultasi Bajet 2014 di sini semalam, beliau memberitahu syarikat tersebut, Poyry Energy Sdn Bhd akan mengkaji tentang sistem transmisi elektrik supaya tidak berlaku gangguan bekalan di negeri ini.   “Esok (hari ini) saya akan mempengerusikan satu mesyuarat di Kuala Lumpur di mana ia akan disertai pihak konsultan, Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) dan Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd bagi mendapatkan hasil awal gangguan elektrik di negeri ini khasnya di Kuching.   “Sebenarnya, kita telah melantik konsultan ini dua bulan lepas iaitu sebelum berlaku gangguan dan hasil (siasatan) akan kita ketahui dalam tempoh dua bulan lagi,” katanya.   Tambah beliau, pada mesyuarat itu nanti pihak berkaitan akan mengetahui lebih mendalam tentang situasi sebenar gangguan tersebut sama ada berpunca dari Empangan Hidroelektrik Bakun atau sistem transmisi yang harus diperkukuhkan. Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd, anak syarikat milik penuh Menteri Kewangan Diperbadankan Malaysia, telah diamanahkan untuk membangun dan menguruskan Projek Hidroelektrik Bakun sejak 1 Mei 2000.   Pada 27 Jun lepas, hampir seluruh Sarawak bergelap akibat gangguan bekalan elektrik mulai kira-kira jam 6 petang semalam dan beransur pulih berperingkat-peringkat di beberapa kawasan selang lebih sejam kemudian.   Pengurus Komunikasi Korporat SEB Ahadiah Zamhari menerusi satu kenyataan pada hari yang sama berkata, ketiadaan bekalan elektrik berpunca daripada gangguan litar di transmisi kuasa Kemena-Bintulu pada jam 5.40 petang.   Sementara itu, sidang media sama turut menyaksikan penyerahan Memorandum Persefahaman (MoU) bersama tiga organisasi iaitu Persatuan Pengilang Bumiputera Sarawak (PENGASAS), Dewan Usahawan Bumiputera Sarawak (DUBS) dan Dewan Usahawan Industri Desa Sarawak.   Majlis Konsultasi Bajet 2014 yang bertemakan ‘Mengotakan Janji Merancak Transformasi’ turut dihadiri Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Tan Sri Datuk Amar Morshidi Abdul Ghani dan Setiausaha Kerajaan Persekutuan Sarawak Datuk Md Yahaya Basimin. Read more:  http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/07/18/punca-sebenar-gangguan-elektrik-diketahui-dua-bulan-lagi/#ixzz2abM8riLT