IPOH: The fourth solar farm project that will be developed in Bidor next year will not affect Orang Asli settlements, Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Saarani Mohamad (pix) said.
He said the project would be situated on an abandoned former mining area and would not create problems for the Orang Asli communities.
“When we develop hydro projects most rivers are in the rainforest and this will affect Orang Asli settlements but this will not happen with this solar farm project,” he told reporters after witnessing the signing of the Perak state solar farm project at his office today.
At the signing Perak State Development Authority was represented by its chief executive Datuk Redza Rafiq Abdul Razak while managing director Datuk Dr Ir Muhamad Guntor Mansor Tobeng represented Ganding Kencana Sdn Bhd (GKSB) as the solar energy industry player.
According to Saarani, the development involves green technology as Perak has several abandoned mining areas and its reuse would bring added value.
Meanwhile, Muhamad Guntor said the fourth solar project would create 800 job opportunities as it is on a 106-acre site.
“We can fill up to 40 megawatt (MW) of solar capacity. To install 40 MW worth of solar equipment, we need 800 workers at certain periods,” he said.
“The first solar farm worth RM214 million in Bidor has been completed,” he said adding that the hydro project in Sungai Gedung worth RM40 million and a third farm in Bidor worth RM110 million are still at the implementation stage.
The fourth investment in Kuala Bikam worth RM150 million will begin next year.
Solar farms have the potential to provide clean energy and is capable of driving the country’s renewable energy industry, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. - Bernama
