MURUM: Fourteen journalists participated in a familiarisation trip to the Murum Hydroelectric Plant (Murum HEP) and Murum Dam, organised by Sarawak Energy.
The media visit was part of Sarawak Energy’s annual engagement program aimed at promoting transparency and open communication with stakeholders.
The participating journalists represented various media outlets, including New Sarawak Tribune, Suara Sarawak, Awani Borneo, Bernama, Unit Komunikasi Awam Sarawak (UKAS), Utusan Sarawak, Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) Bintulu, The Borneo Post, Sin Chew Daily and DayakDaily.
During the trip, journalists received an in-depth look at the operations of the Murum HEP, which has a critical role in Sarawak’s energy mix.
The state’s total generation capacity currently stands at 5,745MW, primarily from renewable hydropower, supplemented by thermal resources from indigenous coal and gas for energy security and supply diversity.
The 944MW Murum HEP, located in the Belaga District of Kapit, is the second-largest hydroelectric plant in Sarawak, following the 2,520MW Bakun HEP.
This project marks Sarawak Energy’s second major renewable energy initiative since the 94MW Batang Ai HEP was commissioned in 1985, with Bakun HEP being acquired by Sarawak Energy in 2017.
Murum HEP plays a significant role in advancing Sarawak’s Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS2030), which aims to elevate the state to high-income status by harnessing renewable energy and ensuring a secure and reliable energy supply.
Additionally, the Murum HEP reservoir is being considered for a floating solar power plant as part of a joint study agreement between Sarawak Energy, Gentari Sdn Bhd and the UAE’s Masdar.
The feasibility study will evaluate the potential for a large-scale floating solar installation on the Murum reservoir, covering technical, environmental, and economic factors.
The journalists also visited the Murum Conservation Garden, situated on an island in the reservoir.
Set up in 2015, the garden is part of Sarawak Energy’s partnership with Sarawak Forestry Corporation to conserve local ecosystems.
The Wildlife Monitoring and Rescue (WiMoR) programme focuses on wildlife monitoring, habitat restoration, and supporting the long-term sustainability of local ecosystems.
The Murum Conservation Garden has relocated or planted an estimated 32,000 plants, including around 12,000 tree seedlings, in the reservoir area.
Sarawak Energy is also committed to the welfare of the Murum host community, implementing various corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
These include the Murum Penan Literacy Programme to address low literacy rates among resettled Penans, the Murum Handicraft Development for sustainable livelihoods, the Murum Penan Education Fund to empower youth, and the Murum “Tagang” system to conserve local fisheries.
The media trip provided journalists with a comprehensive understanding of the Murum HEP’s operations, the history of the dam’s construction, the CSR programs benefiting the Murum community, and Sarawak Energy’s environmental conservation efforts.
