Kembara Media Travelogue Day 2

Read about how Mukah's coal ash will be utilized reported by fellow media who was also here.

by Caroline Jackson from BERNAMA [ HERE ]
by Desmond Davidson from News Strait Times [ HERE ]

Sightseeing...!!

My fellow bloggers - Hilda (Left) owner of Being Hildalalida and Effadylia owner of theborneogirl.com

On-going interview from Araffie Igat from TV3

Live from Mukah: Mountain of unprocessed coals...

more on-site interviews from the media

Mr Norul bin Mat giving his best to distributes information

That's the raw coal on his hand...

After that, here comes lunch! *Thank you to Mukah Power Generation management*

I just love the way their cook this chicken... yummy to the max!

Next visit - Press Metal Sarawak Berhad.

Ingots

Billets

Technical and Development manager Dr Siew Eng Fui

Press Metal Sarawak (PMS) is the first primary aluminium smelting plant in Malaysia located in Mukah with an annual aluminium smelting capacity of 120,000 tons (as of August 2009). Their produce primary aluminium ingots and billets for the domestic and international markets.

Read about Press Metal denies polluting Baligian river by Conny Banji who also with us in this Kembara Media programme. [ HERE ]

We then tour around.. *you might notice the quality of my photos during the Press Metal visit - we'd been recommended to leave the camera ( i don't want to take the risk especially both Digital Cammy & DSLR so I leave it at visitor locker - and capturing using my little 2MP Samsung Galaxy Y) Water bottles or cans are prohibited too because we will be in their smelting pot plants.*

Salam 1Malaysia... *Massive photos ahead*

I have been selected together with three other bloggers (on behalf of Sarawak Bloggers) for the program organised by the Department of Information Malaysia, Sarawak to the Mukah from 10th July to 13th July 2012. To follow my previous entries about my journey... :

Sneek Peek [ HERE ]

Day One [ HERE ]

*.:｡✿*ﾟﾟ･✿.｡.:* NTGRAVITY ZONE TRAVELOGUE DAY TWO STARTED *.:｡✿*ﾟﾟ･✿.｡.:*

11th July 2012

Wake up around 6am and get ready for breakfast. I was the first one to arrive... *Trust me I am SO not a morning person! but I don't want to miss the chance 'snipes' some fresh untouched food photos... hahaha..!*

breakfast buffet style (inclusive in the room)...

salad bar * if you noticed the empty crowd - it's just 6:30am! still early*

bread counter

I really fall in love with the tuna spread! SERIOUSLY! I only consumed toast bread and tuna spread during breakfast at this hotel ever since that day...

Around 8:30am we all gathered at the lobby to be transported to RECODA (The Regional Corridors Development Authority) for a briefing regarding Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy or known as SCORE by YB Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot, Chief Executive Officer, Regional Corridor Development Authority (RECODA) and the Chief Investment Officer of RECODA, Mr Kamil Daniel Yap.

Here we are...

Morning walks for everybody *because the bus stopped at the wrong place hahaha!*

YB Datuk Amar Wilson Baya Dandot entering the meeting room. By the way, if you could see the lady in white - that's my old college mate and also my assistant head of the house (house-like hostel) at Chermai Jaya (which I was the head of the house) *really make my day!*

Briefing start...

All eyes and ears are alerted...

a representative from the Borneo Post and from Filem Negara at the back

Right after the briefing and Q&A sessions from fellow media, we are all set off to Mukah Power Generation (Coal Mine Power Plant) half an hour from Mukah town. We are given a quick briefed all about Mukah Power Generation (Coal Mine Power Plant) by Mr Norul Bin Mat - the Engineer (in Performance & Condition Monitoring)

the entrance...

massive...

touch down...

briefing about coal mine power plant...

Concentrate everyone... *except me... obviously!*

Safety briefing before proceeds to tour around...

handing over momento.

handing over safety gadget - helmet, mask and earplug.

everybody gets the chance to feel like an engineer for a day... hehe

After briefing around 11:30am we all brought to visit around the power plant.

Emission Control Room - monitored using Continuous Emissions Monitoring System which linked online at 24hours to Department of Environment!

Any malfunction will be detected right immediately

Smelting pot plant

As you can see there are aluminium smelting in progress - the raw material, alumina dissolved in an electrolytic bath is reduced to molten aluminium using electricity and carbon electrodes. This method of extracting aluminium metal from alumina also known as 'Hall-Heroult' was invented in 1886 by Charles Martin Hall from America and Paul Heroult of France and this same principle used today in addition to new technology which also used in Canada, New Zealand, Australia including here in Mukah, Sarawak. *Be proud!*

Billets

marker for the production

*smile*

Tea break session

The journey continues to another side of the Mukah division - Dalat an hour journey from Press Metal Berhad.

so very peaceful view...

Pit-stop for fuel...

My..., Hello there...~

When we arrived it's raining and we super were late! *An hour journey plus the time that we stole while at Press Metal Berhad - Q&A sessions*

Yet (and unexpectedly), we all were greeted by a traditional performance from the community.. *Awwww~* before we all ushered to go upstairs for a briefing by the Administrative Officer of Dalat's District Office, Mr Zarni Bin Haji Rapaiee.

Finally, touch down...

Smiling sweetly for media delegates...

Getting a good view...

Utusan Malaysia's representative didn't let go of the chance to dance along...

last briefing for today...

I have never been to Dalat before and I would say that it's impressive development already happening here. From the briefing and slides - there is a huge change from the river bank to the town building.

According to the 2010 National Census, Dalat has a population of 19,062 with a majority of the people in Dalat District is of the Melanau ethnicity making up 77.31% of the population. There are also Malay (2.46%), Chinese(6.75%), Iban(8.67%), and Bidayuh (0.27%).

Dalat is known as an agricultural district, mainly sago and pineapple other than rice farming and other fruits on a small - scale, also known as the largest producer of 'lemantak' flour and sago.

RTM capturing via video

Briefing in progress... That is a videographer for Filem Negara(guy standing)

Kembara Media 2012 was here...

After a short Q&A session, we're having a quick tea break and go back to the hotel.

Honestly, I feel kind of sad because we have missed the opportunities to walk around the town of Dalat (even though it's raining heavily once we reach the Dalat district office.)

Back to hotel to freshen up a little bit for dinner hosted by Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB, Mukah).

*.:｡✿*ﾟﾟ･✿.｡.:* NTGRAVITY ZONE TRAVELOGUE DAY TWO ENDED *.:｡✿*ﾟﾟ･✿.｡.:*

More Photos [ HERE ]

NTGravity: One of the things I valued in this trip, I get to see how the journalist, photographer, videographer do their job..! *Kudos to my fellow media...*

Haiittt~!!