Villagers, technicians and guests stand with project advisor Joseph Richards in front of a new bridget across the river to the powerhouse. Photo: Green Empowerment

The intake valve was opened and water rushed into the 400 foot pipe leading downhill to a tin-roofed powerhouse. The generator started humming, the gathered people took a breath and... Eureka! The quiet lights of Long Lawen came on.

After three years of training, volunteer coordination, fundraising, community organizing and hard work, the first community-owned and operated microhydro system in Sarawak, Malaysia is now up and running in Long Lawen. The 9.6 kilowatt generator, which derives power from a small near-by river, is designed to provide the community with clean, quiet and renewable electricity for lights, small appliances and agricultural processing. The project is the result of a dynamic partnership between The Borneo Project, Green Empowerment, the village of Long Lawen, local organizations PACOS and SAM, as well as a diverse group of funders including Friends of Malaysia, Seacology, Energreen and dozen’s of individual donors.

The microhydro project was completed January 4th, 2002, but it was decided to test the system for several months before officially announcing its success. Everything ran smoothly, and in late April, a formal commissioning ceremony was held. Guests from neighboring villagers, media representatives and members of parliament arrived for the ceremony despite heavy rain. A traditional Kenyah dedication ceremony was followed by speeches and feasting well into the night. Oh, and of course, the lights, microphone and sound system were powered by the new hydro system.

Why microhydro?

Generating renewable electricity from a river benefits the 400 residents of Long Lawen in many ways. Previously, highly polluting and expensive diesel generators were employed to provide power. Decreasing their reliance on the generators, the community will save $6,000 a year. In a relatively cash-scarce economy, this is a major savings.
The addition of a second wiring system for daytime use is particularly important. While generators normally ran only a few hours at night, now appliances can run 24 hours a day. Suddenly, new income generating activities are possible: refrigeration will allow produce to reach downstream markets before spoiling as well as medicinal storage. Communal use of the rice mill reduces labor and makes Long Lawen's rice cheaper than before.

Overall, the Long Lawen project is an enormous success. Technically, the system is robust and in good working order. There are still minor upgrades to be made, like a purging valve to clean the intake and a small weir to ensure enough water during dry seasons. While regular maintenance will be required, the system should last for many years to come.

The first year of operation will be a critical test for the community who must now generate and manage an operational fund to cover the costs of maintenance and repair. Managing a community power system requires strong leadership and the role of Long Lawen’s elected Management Committee is to ensure that the new power system is operated fairly and effectively. A follow-up assessment will be conducted in several months to assess the effectiveness of the project. Representatives from the Sabah NGO, PACOS, will conduct an initial evaluation later this summer and a full evaluation in January 2003.

Future prospects

Following the commissioning ceremony in Long Lawen, the PACOS hydro team met in Sabah for an in-depth training on site selection, civil design and community assessment. The workshop led by Green Empowerment and the Borneo Project offered a chance to evaluate different sites for hydro development based on physical characteristics, as well as the community's level of organization.

The goal of this training was to continue the transfer of skills to PACOS, so that they will be able to take the lead on microhydro development in Malaysia in the future. Two new sites in Sabah are currently being assessed for potential, and design and construction should begin in early 2003.

Borneo has both consistent rainfall and hilly regions--ideal conditions for microhydro. Currently, very few inland village are connected to the power grid, and there are no immediate plans for grid expansion. This combination of potential and need are driving the Borneo Project’s vision to expand micro-hydro initiatives in the region.

The Sarawak government has recently has shown an interest in microhydro technology, but a series of poorly managed pilot projects have recently failed--tainting prospects for real investment in the technology. The success at Long Lawen proves that with careful planning and community involvement microhydro projects provide the community with clean, affordable and reliable power. It is hoped that the government will take notice of the success at Long Lawen and invest the resources needed to expand microhydro technology and meaningful community development.