Currently there are several micro-hydro projects with similar systems that are demonstrating how renewable energy systems can be a wise choice for government policies via rural electrification, which leads to reduction in air and water pollution, increase in general income of local community through the reduction of costly fossil fuel for generators, protection and conservation of forest eco-systems through proper watershed management, and the supply of reliable electricity for the impoverished to provide light for the community hall, homes, cooperative sundry shop, community freezer and schools.
Demonstrate and promotes the use of renewable energy though the building of a micro-hydro system as an alternative for rural electrification from its success in connecting the local communities to global networks.
Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
The installation of a micro-hydro system will provide the local community with reliable supply of electricity for community halls, schools, shop, chiller and other income generating machinery or agro processing equipment such as a community rice mill, etc. This will enable the community to continue working after sunset ie baking and sewing, handicraft & processing food for sale, as well as more time for learning and studies for the children.
Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples
The local indigenous Dusun communities from Marantai, Moninimbar and Kionop Baru zones make up the decentralised village of Kg. Buayan with a population of approximately 500 people.
Notable Community Participation
The villagers of Kg. Buayan in the district of Penampang, Sabah are mainly subsistence farmers from the local indigenous Dusun community, that rely the Papar River for irrigation and other uses. Located on the outskirts of the Crocker Range Park, the village enjoys a wet and humid climate throughout the year. While there is no road access, Kg. Buayan is connected via "ancient salt trails" through a steep forested terrain for a six-hour 10km hike.
Capacity - Building Component
Training will be an integral part of the project as both the local indigenous community and technical teams will be working hand-in-hand during project implementation including overviews of various micro-hydro design option. Training on community mapping, watershed delineation and resource management planning will built the capacity of the local community to manage and maintain the micro-hydro system on their own. Empowernment of the local community is important to ensure that they will conserve their watershed and natural resource including the surrounding environment that is required to run the micro-hydro system.
Gender Focus
Various components of this project involves the active participation of both the men and women of the local communities. While the men would be more involved in the technical side of the micro-hydro system, women would also be involved in the management and conservation of the watershed as well as the income generating component of the project, playing a vital role in poverty elleviation and the empowerment of women.
Project Results
The project is now fully completed; most of the major construction and installation have been completed through the close cooperation among the community and volunteers from TONIBUNG. But due to limitation to the budget, the project was unable to connect all houses in the community, there are still remaining 6 houses not connect to the micro hydro system which will be follow-up in the next phase. Since June 2009, the community has been enjoying 24 hours electricity supply from the micro hydro system. During the project evaluation, the community revealed that the community is very happy with the project and have indicated major households savings made from buying fuels for their generators. The project was co-funded by DANIDA and also in kind contributions from the Member of Parliament in the form of building materials for the micro hydro system.
The micro hydro system has also contributed to the establishment of a community tele-centre that is funded by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI). The community tele-centre is powered by the micro hydro.
No doubt that the project have contributed to major improvements of livelihood of the community through the availability of electricity. Basic lighting have given the community the opportunity to do many things at night. The electricity have also generated many socio economic spin offs from food preservation to food processing that enable the community to do small scale enterprises.
The micro hydro system also have major contribution to the preservation of the environment. The watershed area is now declared as community conserved area. A watershed management protocol that underlines the dos and don’ts in the watershed area have been drafted and endorsed by the community. Enrichment planting have started in the watershed area, however it noted that the are still areas that need further enrichment planting in the future,
This project also contributes towards climate change mitigation by displacing the use of fossil fuels in the community. the micro hydro have decommissioned at least 10 petrol generators and 3 diesel generators. The total consumption of fossil fuel by these generators is about 1000 liters a month. In carbon terms it is about 2700 kg of carbon a month (1litre fossil fuel is 2.7 kg carbon) or 98 tons a year. This might seem to be small in the global or national scale but if this project can be replicated to many communities that have the similar needs, it will make a lot of difference.
In conclusion, this project has shown that there are alternatives to solve the rural electrification of underserved indigenous peoples in the remote areas of the country. This project has very high potential for replication in Sabah and Sarawak including some areas in Peninsular Malaysia. The urgent action to address the climate change issue requires the new thinking and technologies that are more environmentally sound. Everyone have the role to make a difference no matter how small it is. Micro hydro system has shown that it is very good alternative to many issues faced by indigenous peoples communities that lives in the remote areas in Malaysia including the climate change crisis.
