BAKUN HYDROELECTRIC PLANT
Bakun Hydroelectric Plant (HEP)
The Bakun Hydroelectric Powerplant is located on the Batang Balui, the upper course of the Rajang River, approximately 37 km upstream of Belaga town in Kapit Division, Sarawak. The project comprises a hydroelectric power plant, with an installed generation capacity of 2,520 MW and power transmission system connected to existing transmission network in Sarawak. Commissioned in 2011, Bakun HEP has been injecting firm energy of 1,771 MW, depending on the grid demands. Today, the Bakun Reservoir remains the largest and most voluminous reservoir or lake in Malaysia. Bakun HEP is a Concrete Face Rockfilled Dam (CFRD).
|
Dam type |
CFRD |
|
Max. height above foundation |
205 m |
|
Crest length |
750 m |
|
Crest elevation |
EL 236.5 m |
|
Max. flood level |
EL 234 m |
|
Max. operating level |
EL 228 m |
|
Min. operating level |
EL 195 m |
|
Reservoir storage |
43.8 billion m³ |
|
Catchment area |
14,750 km² |
|
Reservoir area at EL 228 asl |
695 km² |
Bakun HEP is the largest power generation facility in Sarawak and supports the Sarawak Corridor of Renewal Energy (SCORE) initiative in Samalaju Industry Park for energy-intensive heavy industries.
Bakun HEP
While the plant was commissioned in 2011, it assumed full operations on 12 July 2014 under the management of Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd which then was owned by Malaysia’s Ministry of Finance. In 2017, Sarawak Energy acquired full ownership and operatorship of the Bakun HEP under the management of its subsidiary, Bakun Hydro Power Generation Sdn Bhd.
In August 2025, Bakun Hydroelectric Plant (HEP) was awarded Silver Certification under the Hydropower Sustainability Standard (HSS), making it the largest hydropower facility in Southeast Asia to receive this recognition at the Operation Stage. This milestone reflects Bakun’s strong commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. The certification follows an independent assessment confirming that Bakun met all minimum requirements and over 30% of the advanced practices.
The Hydropower Sustainability Standard (HSS) is a globally recognized framework that sets performance benchmarks for hydropower projects, with a focus on ESG aspects across planning, implementation, and operation.
Learn more:
- Access the full Assessment Report and related documents on the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance Website.
- or download the Summary Report directly from our website.
