NEWS & UPDATES
Sarawak Energy to light up Pulau Talang-Talang Kechil, Pulau Talang-Talang Besar & Tanjung Datu National Park via Solar
KUCHING, Monday, 29 AUGUST 2016: Sarawak Energy, the state’s flagship utility, will support the turtle conservation effort by Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) by providing an alternative solar scheme to three turtle conservation areas which are remotely situated and not connected to the existing State Grid. Speaking at the handing over ceremony of turtles adoption certificates from SFC to Sarawak Energy's top management team at Menara Sarawak Energy today, the company's Group CEO Datuk Torstein Dale Sjotveit said, "This is Sarawak Energy's ongoing effort to support nature's conservation and through our CSR electrification programme, we will provide electricity to three nature's conservation areas through the use of an alternative energy source, solar power."
The three areas, Pulau Talang-Talang Kechil, Pulau Talang-Talang Besar & Tanjung Datu National Park which are renowned for turtle conservation activities internationally, currently use diesel generators with restricted hours of operation coupled with high maintenance costs. Sarawak Energy is engaging in this project to promote the use of renewable energy and support the management of turtle hatcheries initiatives in the area.
Torstein said, "Sarawak Energy’s CSR efforts also focus on environmental conservation. Through this project, we use environmentally friendly technology and eliminate carbon emission from the existing diesel generators. This project, estimated at a cost of RM2 million, will reduce the high costs of energy generated via diesel generators as well as logistical challenges to transport diesel to these remote areas. The project will also eliminate the loud noises from the diesel generators which disrupt turtle activities in the area," In the event, the guests were also given a briefing on the implementation of the project by Sarawak Energy's General Manager for Research and Development (R&D), Dr. Chen Shiun. Sarawak Energy's R & D team has conducted extensive studies and concluded that all sites are suitable for the implementation of the solar scheme. The project is targeted for completion in September 2017. This will also launch Sarawak Energy’s staff volunteerism drive, building upon the momentum of previous collaborations, our engineers from the R&D Department volunteered to initiate this solar scheme in the three areas. They took in upon themselves to do the ground work, source for funding and execute the project in an effort to cultivate the mindset of being a socially responsible citizen and volunteerism within the organisation.
Sarawak Energy has collaborated with SFC in environmental conservation on Wildlife Monitoring and Rescue (WiMOR) operation. WiMOR is designed to conserve wildlife, flora and fauna within the Murum Hydroelectric Project area.
Another collaboration with SFC was on the Murum Tagang system, a system designed to protect the fish species in the Murum area. These initiatives are part of Sarawak Energy’s broader sustainability agenda for hydropower development, particularly in terms of managing its impact to the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem in the project-affected area and in ensuring that biodiversity impacts arising from the project activities are managed responsibly.
The event witnessed the presentation of turtle adoption certificates to members of Sarawak Energy Group Executive Committee (GEC) who made personal commitments to support turtles conservation by sponsoring the conservation of turtles through SFC's turtles adoption programme. SFC CEO, Mr. Wong Ting Chung said, "We are pleased with Sarawak Energy's commitment and continuous support toward our nature conservation initiatives. The company has been a significant partner in the implementation of various conservation programmes. We look forward to more collaboration with Sarawak Energy and other corporate partners to ensure sustainable development in the state. Through these collaborations, we hope to achieve more in terms of biodiversity conservation."
