Sarawak Energy Berhad subsidiary SEB Power has signed a contract with the China Gezhouba Group and Untang Jaya Sdn Bhd Joint Venture for the main civil works contract of the Baleh Hydroelectric Plant.

Located on the Baleh River, about 95 kilometres upstream from the confluence with the Rejang River in Kapit, the dam will generate 1,285 megawatts of renewable energy once the project is complete. The project is expected to be fully commissioned in 2025 and provide the additional renewable energy required to power Sarawak’s vision of becoming a developed state by 2030. 

Artist's impression of the proposed Baleh Hydroelectric Project. Photo: SarawakEnergy.com

Sarawak Energy Group chief executive officer Encik Sharbini Suhaili and executive vice president James Ung Sing Kwong signed on behalf of SEB Power. China Gezhouba Group was represented by its Malaysia representatives Xu Zhongguo and Huang Mingxing.

The occasion was witnessed by Sarawak's deputy chief minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar and James Jemut Masing, minister for infrastructure development and transportation and state assemblyman for Baleh.

With the signing of the contract, China Gezhouba Group and Untang Jaya Sdn Bhd Joint Venture will soon start with the design works. The contract includes the construction of the dam, intake structure, spillway and penstocks. The construction of the dam is scheduled to begin in October next year.

In his welcoming speech, Sarawak Energy’s chairman Datuk Amar Abdul Hamed Sepawi said the contract was in line with Sarawak Energy’s aim to support the State’s initiatives to maximize local and Bumiputra content in their procurement and contracts.

The construction of the Baleh HEP marks China Gezhouba Group’s entry into Malaysia’s construction industry. An established hydropower specialist, China Gezhouba Group says it has constructed over 100 hydropower projects.