Batang Toru hydropower project

The Batang Toru hydropower project is a proposed hydroelectric facility on the Toru River (Batang Toru) on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. It is best known for threatening the survival of the newly discovered Tapanuli orangutan.[1][2]

The planned hydropower plant was announced in 2012, and is scheduled to be completed in 2022.[2] It is expected to generate 510 megawatts of power, occupy 2.5 square miles, and cost US$1.6 billion to build.[3] The Asian Development Bank and the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation declined to fund the project due to environmental concerns. However, the Bank of China stepped in to fund it, and it will be built by Sinohydro, as part of China's ambitious "Belt and Road Initiative".[2]

It is planned that the hydroelectric plant will store water for 18 hours a day and generate electricity during a 6-hour period of peak demand.[4]

Scientists and environmentalists say that, in addition to impacting 10% of the critically endangered Tapanuli orangutan's already dwindling habitat, infrastructure for the dam (roads and high-voltage power lines) will fragment the orangutan population below viable levels by degrading important wildlife corridors, and increase the likelihood of even further development.[1][2][3][5] The area is also home to other critically endangered animals, including the Sumatran tiger, Sumatran orangutan and Sunda pangolin.[3][6][4] Between 70 and 100 square kilometers (27 and 39 square miles) could be cleared for the dam and reservoir.[1][2] However, a spokesman for the developer, PT North Sumatra Hydro Energy, said that less than 6 square kilometres would be cleared and they would voluntarily abide by international standards for environmental and social impact assessment.[2]

Although many indigenous community members have sold their land to the developers, some are vowing to fight the project. They have held local demonstrations,[6] and even flew to Jakarta to protest in front of the presidential palace. The proposed dam will affect the livelihood of some 100,000 people who live downstream.[3]

The project lies near a fault line, and there is a risk of earthquakes, but this was not mentioned in the environmental assessment for the project. On this and other bases, the Indonesian environmental group WALHI is planning a lawsuit to halt construction.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Nowak, Matthew G.; Rianti, Puji; Wich, Serge A.; Meijaard, Erik; Fredriksson, Gabriella (2017). "Pongo tapanuliensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017.3. International Union for Conservation of Nature: e.T120588639A120588662. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T120588639A120588662.en. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jong, Hans Nicholas (13 July 2018). "Scientists urge Indonesian president to nix dam in orangutan habitat". Mongabay. Archived from the original on 28 July 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Holtz, Michael (1 August 2018). "In China's Belt and Road initiative, environmentalists see risky business". The Christian Science Monitor. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018.
  4. 1 2 Leahy, Stephen (9 August 2018). "Hydroelectric Dam Threatens to Wipe Out World's Rarest Ape". National Geographic Society. Archived from the original on 10 August 2018.
  5. ↑ Hance, Jeremy (23 April 2018). "World's newest great ape threatened by Chinese dam". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 31 July 2018.
  6. 1 2 Karokaro, Ayat S. (14 September 2017). "Protest against hydropower plant in Sumatra ends with injuries". Mongabay. Archived from the original on 10 July 2018.
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