News & Updates

MURUM

12 OCTOBER 2022

Sarawak Energy continues to maintain and manage the Murum Flora Conservation Garden Island at one of the islands of the Murum Hydroelectric Plant (HEP) reservoir as part of its long-term commitment towards sustainable environmental conservation and ten-year campaign to plant and protect 500,000 trees under the corporation’s Tree Planting, Protection and Habitat Restoration Campaign 2021-2030.

Datu Haji Sharbini Suhaili, Sarawak Energy Group Chief Executive Officer, was at the island on a walkabout accompanied by Ir Bunyak Lunyong, SEB Power Chief Executive Officer, Marconi Madai, Senior Vice President for Health, Safety, Security and Environment and Ir. Polycarp Wong, Vice President for Hydro.

They and other members of the management team and staff from Sarawak Energy also planted 50 trees as part of the campaign in conjunction with Global Hydropower Day.

Commenting on the activity, Sharbini assured,” We target to plant or protect 50,000 trees in 2022 and will also be enriching our hydropower catchment areas by planting more trees while protecting existing species and associated ecological services. As a responsible hydropower developer, we continue to build on our previous environmental initiatives and make it our priority to sustain these initiatives.

“Tree planting is part of a suite of important nature-based solutions in our goal to conserve the environment and combat climate change, especially when we do it together on a larger scale and in collaboration with our partners and stakeholders.

In June this year, Sarawak Energy and Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the Sama Jaya Nature Reserve, formalising a partnership for the planting and protection of trees and conduct other biodiversity related research projects across Sarawak Energy’s assets, facilities, locations and project areas in Sarawak.

The signing ceremony was held in conjunction with the official launch of the Sarawak Energy 10-Year Integrated Tree Planting, Protection and Habitat Restoration Campaign by Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr.) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg.

Since the establishment of the Murum Flora Conservation Garden, Sarawak Energy has planted 1,528 plants consisting of mixed dipterocarp species like the gaharu, belian, keruing, meranti, nyatoh, ensurai and engkabang and other species such as tongkat ali, bamboo, and non-tree species namely the wild orchid, ethno – botanical among others.

The Murum Flora Conservation Garden was set up in 2015 under the Wildlife Monitoring and Rescue (WiMOR) operation done in preparation for the construction of the Murum HEP, to conserve native plant species in the dam’s reservoir area.

An estimated 32,000 plants with around 12,000 tree seedlings have been relocated or planted at the reservoir area including on the island which covers approximately 1.4ha land area. The island is a 30min boat ride from Murum HEP Intake jetty.

In 2020, a book on Wild Orchids of Murum Dam, Sarawak, was published in collaboration with Sarawak Forestry Corporation, which documents the collection of wild orchids found in the Murum catchment area.

Sarawak Energy Group CEO Datu Haji Sharbini Suhaili (centre) and the team at the Murum Flora Conservation Garden Island.

 View of Murum Flora Conservation Garden Island