NEWS & UPDATES

Press Conference By The Group CEO of Sarawak Energy

PRESS CONFERENCE BY THE GROUP CEO OF SARAWAK ENERGY, DATUK TORSTEIN DALE SJOTVEIT ON DAM SAFETY DESIGN IN SARAWAK, 12 JUNE 2015, 2.30PM, LEVEL 2, MENARA SARAWAK ENERGY

Kuching, 12 June 2015: This press conference was held to address concerns of the media and public regarding dam safety in Sarawak following the recent earthquake in Sabah.

Below are the key points highlighted in the Press Conference to specifically address issues on SEISMIC ACTIVITIES AND DESIGN CRITERIA and DAMS’ PROXIMITY TO ACTIVE FAULT LINES:

  1. The planning for HEPs development in Sarawak is designed with full consideration of the local seismic condition.  
  2. The region where we are developing hydropower projects are 10 times lower in earthquake intensity compared to Sabah region (which is the highest  intensity within the Borneo region)
  3. The table below demonstrates the Richter scale and the intensity of earthquakes

  1. For normal operations, our dams are designed to operate normally during an earthquake equivalent to the recent one in Sabah which is 10 times higher than what is expected in our hydropower region.
  2. The integrity of the dam will not be impacted with an earthquake intensity of 15 times higher  than the maximum expected earthquake in our hydropower region.
  3. None of our hydropower projects are located on any geological fault lines.  This is illustrated in the attached map

  1. The nearest fault line to Baram dam site is around 30km from the dam site (west Baram fault line) which is also inactive. 

CONCLUSION

Any potential earthquakes occurring in our region  will not jeopardize the integrity of any of our existing or planned dams

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

SEISMIC STUDIES & PROJECT SPECIFIC HAZARD ASSESSMENT STUDIES

Dam design has incorporated:

(1)    Studies by the Department of Minerals and Geoscience Malaysia

        (a)     The Geological and Seismotectonic Information of Malaysia – 2006

        (b)     Assessment of the Seismic Threats to Malaysia from Major Earthquakes in the SE Asian region – 2008

(2)    Seismological Study for hazards assessment done by Seismological Research Centre, Australia in 2009 to identify and address deep seismic activity in the state.

Results of the studies have been incorporated into the assessment of location and HEP design in Sarawak.