Bakun Hydroelectric Project

The Bakun Hydroelectric Project is located in Sarawak, Malaysia on the Balui River. As part of the project, the tallest concrete-faced rockfill dam in the world would be built. This would also be the largest dam in Asia outside of China. It is expected to generate 2,400 megawatts (MW) of electricity once completed.

The purpose for the dam was to meet growing demand for electricity. However, most of this demand lies in Peninsular Malaysia and not East Malaysia, where the dam is located. The original idea was to have 30% of the generated capacity consumed in East Malaysia and the rest sent to Peninsular Malaysia. This plan envisioned 660 km of overhead HVDC transmission lines in East Malaysia, 670 km of undersea HVDC cable and 460 km of HVDC transmission line in Peninsular Malaysia.

Future plans for the dam include connecting it to an envisioned Trans-Borneo Power Grid Interconnection, which would be a grid to supply power to Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei, and Kalimantan. There have been mentions of this grid made within ASEAN meetings but no actions have been taken by any party.

The dam was to be built beginning in 1994 was originally scheduled for completion in 2003. The Bakun hydroelectric project in Sarawak is expected to be fully operational in May 2011, the Dewan Rakyat was told on Wednesday [28.03.07] .Finance Ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya said the main dam was 65.9 per cent completed and was expected to be ready in the third quarter of 2009 with the first turbine to swing into action in October that year.

Once completed.

• Bakun Dam will be the tallest concrete faced rockfill dam (CFRD) in the world.
• Bakun Lake will be the biggest lake in Malaysia by storage volume.
• Bakun Lake will be the largest lake in Malaysia by surface area, even though it is not apparent on the map, due the the sliver shape of the various lake tributaries, as a result of location in the highland valleys.
• Bakun Power Station will be the largest hydroelectric dam in Malaysia, surpassing the currently largest Pergau Dam 's power station in Malaysia.
• Bakun submarine power cable will be the longest in the world, surpassing the current Norway to Netherland submarine cable.