Bakun Dam:Hydroelectric,irrigation, and flood control, but at
what price?  Bakun Dam nears completion (photo from
http://www.thestar.com.my)  As defined by the International
Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD), a “large dam” is at least 15 m
tall or must carry at least 3 million cubic meters of water. The
controversial Bakun Dam, located at Balui River, about 200 km
from Bintulu town in Sarawak, easily meets these criteria of a
large dam.  Once completed, Bakun Dam would be 205 m tall,
making it the second tallest dam in the world outside China.
After nearly 15 years (which included several delays), the Bakun
dam is expected to be completed by the end of 2010 with a cost
overrun of nearly RM2 billion (about one-quarter more than the
initial expected cost).  The Bakun Dam would generate 2,400 MW
of electricity. Initially, it was planned that 70% of that
generated electricity would be delivered to Peninsular (West)
Malaysia and the rest to East Malaysia. However, according to
the blog by Dato’ Sri Peter Chin Kah F