New Straits Times 7 Sep 10;
KUCHING: A state minister yesterday dismissed claims that the Bakun and Murum hydroelectric dams in Belaga could generate all the power Sarawak needed in the future.
Second Planning and Resources Management Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan said the plan to build more dams to meet the state's and export demands for power would proceed.
"Based on requests by investors, we are not generating enough to meet demand," he said after presenting land titles at Kg Man in Samarahan. "One smelter had asked for over 2,000MW. I told them we could not dedicate this for just one smelter."
He did not name the smelter but the Bintulu end of the state's industrial belt known as the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) could have as many as four power hungry smelters.
One is the proposed multi-billion ringgit Sarawak Aluminium Company, a joint venture between Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad and Rio Tinto Aluminium of Australia that would be sited at the Samalaju Industrial Park.
Another is the Smelter Asia Sdn Bhd, a joint venture between GIIG Holdings Sdn Bhd and Aluminium Corp of China Ltd.
South Korean Pohang Iron and Steel Company, the world's second largest steel maker and Asia's most profitable steelmaker, reportedly held talks with the state government over a plan to site a plant in Samalaju.
Three of the proposed so-called "small dams" would be built in Limbang, Lawas at the northern end of the state and in Pelagus near Kapit.
Awang Tengah said technical studies for the three dams had been completed with the dam in Limbang able to generate up to 200MW, Lawas (100MW) and Pelagus (770MW).
He said power generated would be for the smelters and other industries in in Score and for export to Indonesia, Brunei and "probably Sabah".
