PENAMPANG: The use of micro hydro system to generate electricity in six villages in the district, which has been resistant, durable and still in use today, is a result of community-based concept in the maintenance of the system.
Through the concept, the villagers carried out the maintenance of the system themselves, thanks to the training provided by Tobokai Ningkokoton Koburuan Kampung (Tonibung), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that introduced the system.
Tonibung technical adviser, Senator Adrian Banie Lasimbang said the six villages receiving electricity through the micro hydro system were Terian, Tiko, Buayan, Pongobonon, Kalanggan and Longkogungang in the Ulu Papar district of Sabah.
He said Tonibung developed the micro-hydro technology in 2001 with the assistance of several public and private agencies, as well as international organisations.
He said the model was introduced as an alternative to providing electricity in villages located in remote areas.
“This is a community-based micro hydro model that we are promoting in the country so that rural people can enjoy electricity supply,” he told Bernama.
Adrian said Tonibung had a centre in the area that produced turbines and tools to produce the micro hydro power with locally developed technology using recycled materials such as aluminum.
He said in implementing the system, the most important thing was to ensure that the villagers could operate the system and carry out maintenance on an ongoing basis.
Tonibung, he said, had also set up a Centre for Renewable Energy and Appropriate Technologies that provided training to the locals who would become the operators of the system in their respective villages.
He said they had also proposed the use of the micro hydro technology with Sabah Rural Development Ministry as an alternative to providing electricity to rural areas across the state.
Adrian said that not all places had the potential to use the micro hydro system as its installation required higher ground and a continuous flow of water.
“Tonibung has developed hybrid technology and has already run several projects where solar and hydro powers are combined to create a hybrid technology,” he said, adding that the technology had a longer life span and cheaper as it did not require large solar panels. – Bernama
