MALAYSIA, Terian, Sabah - July 2004
Integrated watershed management and community micro-hydro system
Click photo to enlarge
The Crocker Range National Park, also called "The Spine of Sabah," covers 540 square miles of remote forest in the Malaysian state of Sabah on the island of Borneo and is one of the most important sanctuaries of biodiversity left in the heavily logged state. Terian Village has agreed to protect a 1,000-acre watershed area in exchange for a micro-hydro energy system, which creates power by harnessing the vertical drop of a stream within the watershed. Seacology is working with PACOS Trust , the Borneo Project, Green Empowerment and Tinimungan Popoburu Tulun (TINIPOT or the Community Development Action Group of Terian) to complete this system.*
UPDATE July 2005 - Project coordinator and 2004 Seacology Prize recipient Adrian Lasimbang reports that the last of the equipment was delivered to Terian by helicopter and that the turbine will be installed and operating by June 2005. Mr. Lasimbang and the Terian community plan to use the month of July to test the system to make sure the micro-hydro system is fully operational. 300 seedlings and materials for a nursery were also delivered in early 2005 to start the watershed reforestation program.
UPDATE January 2006 - In June, some sections of pipe had to be replaced due to damage by a fallen tree. Other trees along the headrace were removed to prevent future problems. In August, a community meeting was held to discuss various aspects of management of the micro-hydro system, and follow-up training for system operators was held as well as training of three new operators. In September, house wiring safety inspections were held, and Miniature Circuit Breakers were installed to limit power use by each household based on the subscribed lighting package. Operation of the system was reduced to between 6-11 PM during this time, the driest of the year. A small "agro-processing" unit has been set up to grind cassava and husk rice. A detailed evaluation will be conducted in January 2006, six months after the official commissioning of the system.
UPDATE June 2006 - The micro-hydro system was completed in June 2005. It is providing renewable electricity for lights, small appliances and agricultural processing. Training for the maintenance of the system occurred in late 2005 and community meetings were held to discuss various aspects of managing the system. A Seacology group visited the site and the system during their April 2006 expedition to Borneo. A mud slide had temporarily suspended operation of the generator during their visit. The community remains very appreciative of the project and land owners upstream have signed an agreement not to participate in activities that would deteriorate a several hundred acre parcel of land.
UPDATE January 2007 - After the mud slide in April the system was repaired to full operation in July 2006. The system is providing renewable electricity for lights, small appliances and agricultural processing. The community now collects contributions from members for their use of the electricity and mills so they can pay for future repair costs.
*Support for asterisked projects is provided fully or in part by: 
