Sarawak Energy denies Baleh River logjam caused by clearing works at dam project

The logjam on the Baleh River as seen at 1.30pm on Sunday (Aug 22) – photo courtesy of Sarawak Energy Bhd.

KUCHING: Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) has refuted claims that the logjam and floating debris on the Baleh River in Kapit division were caused by site clearing works at the Baleh dam project.

SEB said its onsite team had conducted land, river and aerial drone surveillance following reports of the accumulation of timber and debris in the river.

"From the initial assessment, it has been concluded that the source of the debris is more than 1.5km upstream of the (Baleh dam's) diversion tunnel inlet portal.

"It is understood that timber logging continues to be active at upstream tributaries of Baleh River," the state utility company said in a statement on Monday (Aug 23).

The logjam was highlighted on Sunday (Aug 22) by Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri James Masing, who blamed timber concessionaires operating in the upper reaches of the Baleh River for the problem and urged the state government to stop renewing timber licences in the area.

However, Harian Metro reported that state forest director Hamden Mohamed said the floating debris came from land clearing works at the site of the Baleh dam on Sunday.

SEB said there was no major land clearing activity currently taking place at the project site that would have contributed to the logjam.

It said the last site clearing works took place in 2018, downstream from the diversion tunnels, when the project commenced.

"The activity was completed in April 2019 when the associated logs and debris were properly disposed of in accordance with approved Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) guidelines and under their supervision," SEB said.

It said the origin of the logjam and debris was upstream of the project site and not from the site clearing works.

SEB also said it was deeply concerned about the impact of the logjam on the safety of the dam's construction.

"If the situation continues, there will be a significant risk to construction as well as the safety of downstream communities," it said, adding that its team had started trial clearing works to determine the safest and most efficient way to remove the debris obstructing water flow into the inlet portal of the diversion tunnels.

The 1,258MW Baleh dam is scheduled for completion in 2026.