basin water blog

Sabah Energy Sdn Bhd (SESB) had committed itself to use the green technology for over 100 MW in the east coast of Sabah. However, the development of 300 MW Coal-fired plant in Lahat Datu is still the best option to provide better electricity to the east coast of Sabah. This statement was given by Baharin Din, the managing director of SESB, as quoted by Borneo Post, April 27, 2010. The current demand in the east coast of Sabah is 220 MW, and expected to grow to 400 MW by 2017. Although they have the east-west grid, the supply of 300 MW from the coal plant is unavoidable. The Environmental Impact Assessment is to be completed at the end of May 2010, and if it is approved the construction will be carried out immediately. It is expected that the first unit of 75 MW plant would be completed by 2013.

Figure 1 Rivers and Points Annual Rainfall at Sabah (After Sabah Water Resources Master Plan, 1995) The best source of information about river basins in Sabah is from the "Sabah Water Resources Master Plan", which can be seen at http://www.did.sabah.gov.my/ . The river basins are can be grouped as those that discharging the flow to the west coast, north coast, and to the east coast. Some rivers that go to west coast are: Sg. Mayog/Babogon Sg. Papar Sg. Padas Some rivers that go to the north coast are: Sg. Bandau Sg. Bangan/Kinorom Sg. Bengkoko/Pitas Some rivers that go to the east coast are: Sg. Liwagu Sg. Kinabatangan Sg. Tawau Sg. Merotai Besar The Figure 1 shows the points annual rainfalls and rivers in Sabah.

The goal of energy development in Indonesia is to increase the access to energy for currently 65 % of 234 million of its population to 90%, by the end of 2020. The plan is by adding extra 10, 000 MW by 2012 from coal energy, and the other is another 10,000 MW from geothermal energy. More information about development of geothermal energy in Indonesia can be found in the PT Pertamina Geothermal at http://www.pgeindonesia.com/ Development of geothermal energy is a strategic move in the energy development in Indonesia since it is a clean energy, and hence reducing the greenhouse gas emission. The head of Indonesian Association Geothermal Association, Surya Darma, as quoted by Borneo Post April 25, 2010, said that "The government's aim to add 4,000 MW of geothermal capacity from existing 1,189 MW, by 2014". One of the biggest obstacles is the cost, where a geothermal plant cost twice compare to a dirty coal-fired power plant. But once established, it can provide the free supp