KUCHING: Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) will commence a controlled water release at the Bakun Hydroelectric Plant (HEP) from April 18 to May 9.
The operation, approved by the Sarawak Rivers Board, aims to maintain the reservoir at safe operating levels while reducing the risk of downstream flooding with advance notice has been issued to nearby communities through public announcements and social media platforms.
In a statement, it said that the Bakun Reservoir had recently stored over 700 million cubic metres of water—equivalent to 280,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools—greatly minimising flood risks across the region.
“As part of our standard hydropower operations, seasonal water releases are essential to balance reservoir levels and river health,” SEB said.
SEB added that residents living downstream are advised to remain vigilant, as river levels and currents may fluctuate during the release period.
“We assured that the water discharge will be carefully regulated to minimise impact on surrounding communities and ecosystems.
“The controlled release is part of a broader water management strategy guided by SEB’s dynamic water dispatch management system, implemented in 2020.
“This system incorporates advanced weather and inflow forecasting, allowing reservoir levels to be modelled up to six months in advance.”
SEB stated that operations at Bakun, Murum and Batang Ai hydroelectric plants strictly adhere to international standards, including those set by the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) and the Hydropower Sustainability Standard (HSS), ensuring that environmental, technical and community considerations are fully addressed.
SEB reiterated its commitment to transparency and public safety and encouraged the public to stay updated through its official social media channels and the SEB Cares mobile app.
For further information, members of the public may visit www.sarawakenergy.com or follow Sarawak Energy on Facebook and Twitter.
