The Role of Micro Hydro Power Systems in Remote Rural Electrification: A Case Study in The Bawan Valley, Borneo

Like communities all over the world, the people of the Bawan Valley in the East Kalimantan Province of Indonesian Borneo want the benefits of electricity. The Bawan Valley, however, is geographically isolated from the rest of East Kalimantan, making access to electricity via the national electricity grid impossible. Hydro resources are abundant in the Bawan Valley and hydroelectricity is a promising option for electrification of remote villages in this area. The existing micro hydro systems in the area have been built as government, community-based or private agency projects. Some of these micro hydro systems have been more successful than others. This paper presents the results of a study of two micro hydro systems in the Bawan Valley villages of Liang Butan and Tang Paye. The study aimed to provide insight into critical issues in the stages of development and the impacts of a micro hydro system on rural communities in the Bawan Valley. Surveys of the villages included field observations, written questionnaires, energy audits and semi-structured interviews with community leaders and householders. Various key informants, such as village headmen, Kepala Adat (grass roots community leader), and micro hydro equipment manufacturers were also interviewed. The key findings of the study were that the success of micro hydro systems depends not only on technical aspects, such as design and operation and maintenance, but also on social factors such as community capacity building, and that the successful implementation of micro hydro systems in remote areas requires careful planning and the involvement of all stakeholders in the planning process.