TY - JOUR
T1 - Bending bamboo
T2 - Restructuring rural electrification in Sarawak, Malaysia
AU - Sovacool, Benjamin K.
AU - Valentine, Scott V.
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors are appreciative to the Centre on Asia and Globalisation and the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy for some of the financial assistance needed to conduct the research interviews, field research, and travel for this project. L.C. Bulan also assisted greatly with collection of primary data. The authors are extremely grateful to the National University of Singapore for Faculty Start-up Grant 09-273 , a Global Asia Institute Research Grant, as well as the MacArthur Foundation for Asia Security Initiative Grant 08-92777-000-GSS , which have supported elements of the work reported here. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Centre on Asia and Globalisation, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Global Asia Institute, National University of Singapore, or MacArthur Foundation.
PY - 2011/9
Y1 - 2011/9
N2 - This article examines the strategy of electrification for Sarawak which centers on large-scale hydroelectric projects. Drawing from extensive in-field interviews of stakeholders in Sarawak who are affected by the soon-to-be-completed 2400. megawatt (MW) Bakun Hydroelectric Project, this article presents documentary evidence that these "hard path" mega energy projects are economically, socially and ecologically sub-optimal. The study suggests that more rigorous development of "soft path" small-scale, decentralized renewable energy systems more effectively support development and electrification aspirations for the region. The paper concludes with an analysis which invalidates the rationale for supporting mega projects yet recognizes that powerful advocates pose significant threats to a transition from hard to soft energy paths. It puts forth a concluding recommendation that pressure to scale down these mega projects and bolster decentralized, small-scale initiatives represents the most feasible approach to optimizing rural electrification in Sarawak. Overall, this case study provides both a detailed analysis of the inadequacies of mega energy projects in supporting economic development in less affluent regions and insight into how to strategically facilitate ideological change from hard (mega projects) to soft (decentralized energy systems) energy paths.
AB - This article examines the strategy of electrification for Sarawak which centers on large-scale hydroelectric projects. Drawing from extensive in-field interviews of stakeholders in Sarawak who are affected by the soon-to-be-completed 2400. megawatt (MW) Bakun Hydroelectric Project, this article presents documentary evidence that these "hard path" mega energy projects are economically, socially and ecologically sub-optimal. The study suggests that more rigorous development of "soft path" small-scale, decentralized renewable energy systems more effectively support development and electrification aspirations for the region. The paper concludes with an analysis which invalidates the rationale for supporting mega projects yet recognizes that powerful advocates pose significant threats to a transition from hard to soft energy paths. It puts forth a concluding recommendation that pressure to scale down these mega projects and bolster decentralized, small-scale initiatives represents the most feasible approach to optimizing rural electrification in Sarawak. Overall, this case study provides both a detailed analysis of the inadequacies of mega energy projects in supporting economic development in less affluent regions and insight into how to strategically facilitate ideological change from hard (mega projects) to soft (decentralized energy systems) energy paths.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.esd.2011.05.003
DO - 10.1016/j.esd.2011.05.003
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:80052970590
SN - 0973-0826
VL - 15
SP - 240
EP - 253
JO - Energy for Sustainable Development
JF - Energy for Sustainable Development
IS - 3
ER -
