MALAYSIA, Mudung Abun, Belaga District, Sarawak - May 2009
Integrated community-based micro-hydro power system in support of 1,236 acres of watershed for 30 years
The Kenyah community is one of Borneo's indigenous tribes that still depend on natural resources for their livelihood. Mudung Abun, which in the Kenyah language means "Cloud Mountain," describes the location of their village in the remote mountainous region of the Belaga District in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. The community has a population of approximately 300 people who are mostly hill paddy farmers. The Institut Pribumi Malaysia Sarawak (IPIMAS), in collaboration with fellow NGO Partners of Community Organizations (PACOS Trust), are launching a project to promote renewable energy and enhance watershed conservation by building a 50 kilowatt micro-hydro energy system. The electricity from the system will be used to light 22 homes, community verandas, a women's cooperative sundry shop, food processing center, blacksmithing and welding workshop, and a community hall. The micro-hydro system will replace and eliminate the use of polluting fossil fuels currently used by eight generators and three rice-milling machines, all of which are powered by diesel. This project will eliminate the use of at least 211 gallons of diesel per month. Seacology will fund the construction of the micro-hydro system in support of the entire 1,236-acre watershed area being protected against shifting cultivation, logging, road construction and other extractive development activities.
UPDATE December 2009 - As of December 2009 the project coordinator reports that the community has identified suitable sites for the construction of the project weir, fore-bay and power house. The community has built a 1km long trail/road to the project sites and has started to gather building materials for the construction of the different civil work components of the project. Site clearing for the fore-bay, weir, and power house have been completed and construction of the fore-bay is in progress. The ground survey and demarcation line for the penstock (the pipe from the stream to the turbine) has been completed. The clearing and digging work along the penstock line is in progress. IPIMAS has conducted a community consultation workshop on micro-hydro power development that was attended by the members of the village. The workshop explored the importance of micro-hydro power to the local community, conservation and sustainable use of natural resources, watersheds protection, socio-economic development planning and livelihood activities.
UPDATE February 2010 - As of February 2010 the penstock for the water to run the turbine has been connected to the powerhouse. Excavating work for the weir & intake has been completed.
