KUCHING: Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) recently joined a clean-up exercise, which was organised by Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB), upstream Bakun lake to clear floating debris for the Long Kebuho lakeside community.
Present to officiate at the event was Assistant Minister for Utilities (Rural Electricity) Datuk Liwan Lagang.
Twelve SEB officers and 40 villagers of Long Kebuho participated in the clean-up alongside SRB personnel.
Life vests, face masks and hand sanitisers were also contributed to keep participants safe from the risk of Covid-19 transmission.
Long Kebuho, which consists of about 100 households, depends primarily on the river as its main mode for transportation and source of livelihood.
The stagnant floating debris, located about 80km upstream of the hydropower plant, had impeded the ease of river navigation.
As part of its operational requirements, SEB had cleared floating debris found within a 15-km radius of the dam to protect the 2,400MW Bakun Hydroelectric Plant (Bakun HEP), a highly secured facility, vital for Sarawak’s energy demand.
The clearing of floating debris is also crucial to ensure that villagers who live upstream have safe boat passage on the lake and upriver tributaries.
“We truly feel that we are a part of this lakeside community and they are a part of us. SEB’s Bakun and Murum hydropower teams will continue to work together with the Bakun and Murum residents of Belaga to provide support when necessary and in the deployment of our social investments.
“This gotong-royong helps to clear the river passageways and foster closer rapport with SRB and the communities whom we work closely with on our day-to-day operations,” said SEB vice president for hydro, Polycarp Wong.
