Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi visited Balingian a small town on the banks of the Balingian river in the central region. Balingian is one of the areas within the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).
During his visit, RECODA CEO Tan Sri Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot briefed the DPM on SCORE developments in Balingian and Mukah during the visit.
This includes Sarawak Energy Bhd’s 2 x 300MW Balingian coal-fired power plant project that is due to come online in 2018. According to Sarawak Energy, the Balingian coal-fired power plant is one of many new power generation projects on Sarawak Energy’s drawing board.
Construction of the coal-fired power plant commenced in 2014 and upon completion, will generate 600MW of inexpensive energy for SCORE’s customers.
This new power plant will utilise rich local resources of coal to generate the energy source based on a sustainable development and operations programme.
The plant is located along the Balingian river, 25km due south-east of the existing Mukah 2 x 135 MW Power Station, and about 60km from Mukah Town.
In conjunction with the construction of the plant, Sarawak Energy will upgrade the existing access to the plant to a 6m wide, tar-sealed 23km road from the junction of Jalan Selangau to Matadeng.
Other plans include the construction of a 33kV overhead electricity line and the laying of a water supply pipeline in the area.