DiGi leads micro-hydro project to bring electricity to remote village in Malaysia

Article: 24 September 2010

Villagers in Kampung Lumpagas can now turn on the lights, thanks to DiGi's Deep Green program.

Janimah Sumari (17) of Kampung Lumpagas can now do her homework at night. With help from DiGi and a community group called “Partners of Community Organisations”, the village now houses a micro-hydroelectric system that generates electricity for the community.

Deep Green “Challenge for Change”

DiGi’s efforts in Kampung Lumpagas are part of a bigger, three-year community engagement program called Deep Green “Challenge for Change”. Deep Green launched in 2008 and represents DiGi’s efforts to raise awareness and understanding of climate change issues and address local environment issues in communities across Malaysia.

Demonstrating the viability of renewable energy

DiGi CEO Henrik Clausen said that DiGi’s work in Kampung Lumpagas met its goal of bringing high value to the recipient community and imparting long-term sustainability. “We see our role beyond just funding, but rather to spark new ideas that are aligned with our overall ambition to reduce our shared climate impact. In this instance, we are demonstrating the viability of renewable energy for rural communities in Malaysia,” he said.

I knew this project would be good for my people

Kampung Lumpagas village head, Itor Okol, shared his approval for DiGi’s work in his community. “I saw it and knew from the start that this project would be good for my people.”

According to Malaysian Business, the new micro-hydroelectric project will help “reduce the community’s dependency on diesel generators, thus offsetting the trend of burning and emission of greenhouse gases and toxic pollutants that contribute to the climatic changes in the region. The micro-hydro system will provide basic lighting and power communal freezers that are essential for this subsistence community to keep their fish and meat fresh.”