Solar energy for turtle sanctuaries

Sarawak Energy’s corporate services executive vice president Aisah Eden (centre) receiving a turtle adoption certificate from Wong as Sjotveit and other SEB and SFC personnel look on.

KUCHING: Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) will support turtle conservation efforts by providing an alternative solar scheme to three remote turtle conservation areas not connected to the state grid.

The three areas – Pulau Talang-Talang Kecil, Pulau Talang-Talang Besar and Tanjung Datu National Park – are internationally renowned for turtle conservation activities by Sarawak Forestry Corp (SFC).

They currently use diesel generators with restricted hours of operation and high maintenance costs.

SEB is engaging in solar project to promote the use of renewable energy and support the management of turtle hatcheries in these locations.

“This is our ongoing effort to support nature conservation. Through our corporate social responsibility (CSR) electrification programme, we will provide electricity to three conservation areas through the use of solar power, an alternative energy source,” SEB group chief executive Datuk Torstein Dale Sjotveit said at the handing over of turtle adoption certificates from SFC to the utility company.

Sjotveit said SEB’s CSR efforts also focused on environmental conservation.

“Through this project, we use environmentally friendly technology and eliminate carbon emission from the existing diesel generators. This project, estimated at a cost of RM2mil, will reduce the high costs of energy generated from diesel generators and the logistical challenges of transporting diesel to these remote areas.

“It will also eliminate the loud noise from the diesel generators, which disrupts turtle activities in the area,” he added.

SEB’s research and development team has conducted extensive studies and concluded that the three sites were suitable for the implementation of the solar scheme.

The project is targetted for completion in September next year.

During the ceremony, SFC presented certificates to members of SEB’s group executive committee who made personal commitments to sponsor turtle conservation through SFC’s turtle adoption programme.

SFC chief executive Wong Ting Chung said SEB was a “significant partner” in the implementation of various conservation programmes.

“We look forward to more collaborations with SEB and other corporate partners to ensure sustainable development in the state.

“Through these collaborations, we hope to achieve more in terms of biodiversity conservation,” he said.