KUCHING, AUG 23: Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) has refuted claim that the logjam and debris situation at Baleh River is caused by site clearing works from Baleh Hydroelectric Project (HEP).
SEB in a statement today said that the origin of the logjam and debris is upstream of the project site and is clearly not from the site clearing works.
In the statement, SEB also said that its team onsite has conducted land, river and aerial drone surveillance following reports of the mass accumulation of timber and other natural debris in the river to verify the source of the floating debris.
“From the initial assessment, it has been concluded that the source of the debris is more than 1.5km upstream of the diversion tunnels inlet portal.
“It is understood that timber logging continues to be active at upstream tributaries of Baleh River,” it said.
In the meantime, SEB team has already started trial clearing works to of the floating timber debris that obstructing the water flow into the inlet portal of the diversion tunnels.
“For safety reasons, the pace of the clearing works can only be accelerated after the high water levels recede,” it added.
SEB calls on all agencies, other stakeholders and operators in the area to work together to resolve this issue which presents a threat to the safety of the Baleh River community and the safe and timely delivery of the Baleh HEP.
Scheduled for completion in 2026, the 1285MW Baleh HEP is a key State Infrastructure project.
