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Viewing cable 09BANDARSERIBEGAWAN39, BRUNEI FLOODS: IS THERE A LONG TERM IMPACT?

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09BANDARSERIBEGAWAN39 2009-03-10 00:54 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
VZCZCXRO4630
PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHBD #0039/01 0690054
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 100054Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4443
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000039 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT PASS FOR DEPT OF ENERGY BRYANB and VANDERMEYC 
DEPARTMENT PASS FOR EAP/MTS/COPPOLAMG 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PINR BX
 
SUBJECT:  BRUNEI FLOODS: IS THERE A LONG TERM IMPACT? 
 
SUMMARY 
 
1.(SBU) Beginning on January 20th, Brunei experienced the worst 
flooding in over 40 years.  Roads have been washed out, towns and 
villages isolated and crops destroyed.  At least 1500 homes have 
been damaged, but the direct death toll has been limited. The 
government responded slowly and Brunei experienced a rare public 
outcry, especially regarding the damage done to the country's 
electrical system. Ambassador Todd responded by bringing a senior 
Department of Energy (DOE) official to meet with Government and 
private sector officials. The meetings focused on energy and 
electrical supply reliability and security.  Deputy Assistant 
Secretary Bill Bryan and Ambassador Todd secured a pledge to bring 
in a Department of Energy assessment team to Brunei. While fund 
raising continues, along with some limited infrastructure 
improvement, the long term impact of the floods has yet to be 
determined. END SUMMARY 
 
FLOODING THROUGHOUT BRUNEI 
2. (SBU) As many Bruneians stayed up late on January 20th to watch 
President Obama's inaugural address, the rains started in Brunei and 
it did not stop. Power was knocked out throughout the capital city 
of Bandar Seri Begawan as well as other cities in Brunei. Water 
systems also failed.  Roads were washed out, houses collapsed due to 
landslides, and two deaths were directly related to the initial 
flooding.  The rains continued until the weekend of February 7th, 
2009, with occasional flooding until the end February. Flooding has 
occurred throughout the country and isolated many villages and other 
small communities in the Tutong and Belait districts. At one point 
during the flooding, the main oil and gas producing cities of Seria 
and Kuala Belait were cut off from the rest of the country as a 
landslide blocked the main and only highway into these two 
communities. The flooding is attributed to the heaviest rains in the 
past 40 years along with very high tides. 
 
LACK OF POWER LEADS TO RARE PUBLIC OUTCRY 
 
3. (SBU) While heavy rains and high tides were primary causes of 
much of the heavy flooding, the power outages, water system 
failures, and destroyed homes and roads could not simply be 
attributed to Mother Nature's ravages. The electrical system was 
significantly damaged during the initial flooding as one of the main 
power plants was flooded.  Lack of preventative maintenance and 
equipment caused the pumping systems to fail. In addition, the 
electrical company has almost no spare turbines or other equipment. 
(NOTE:  The dedicated power system for the royal family and critical 
infrastructure was not/not affected by the rains and flooding. End 
NOTE). Power was out for over 3 days in some areas. This is a rare 
occurrence in Brunei and caused a very public outcry that was 
covered in the media.  The Brunei media does not normally publish 
accounts of the citizenry's dissatisfaction with the government. 
The coverage focused on the lack of a timely government response. 
 
AMBASSDOR TODD BRINGS IN US EXPERTISE 
 
4. (SBU) Seeing an immediate need, Ambassador Todd worked with the 
Department of Energy, International Programs office, to bring Deputy 
Assistant Secretary Bill Bryan to Brunei on short notice.  DAS Bryan 
was in the region discussing DOE programs. DAS Bryan and Ambassador 
Todd met with Brunei's Minister of Energy as well as senior 
officials from the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) during 
his short visit.  The Minister was impressed that the US was able to 
bring experts in on short notice.  He also noted that Brunei was in 
need of not only short term improvement but long term planning, 
especially in the area of energy security.  The failure of the power 
plants was especially troubling to the government. BEDB officials 
noted that Brunei has significant infrastructure needs and relies on 
antiquated systems left over from the British.  DAS Bryan noted that 
the DOE program focuses on a system wide perspective and evaluates 
where a county's energy security is most vulnerable.  Of particular 
note is the program's focus on electrical reliability. 
 
NEXT STEPS 
------------- 
5. (SBU) Since the flooding has subsided, there has been some 
activity, most notably in fund raising. The Government established a 
relief fund which has raised over 1.5 million Brunei dollars. 
Reconstructed and/or new homes have been given out, some by the 
Sultan himself. There have been some repairs to drainage systems but 
most are on an ad-hoc basis. There has been a general public 
awareness campaign about the need to be more prepared for the next 
natural disaster but no specific efforts to date.  However, DOE and 
Embassyare working to arrange Digital Video Conferences ad follow 
up visits by DOE assessments teams. We ave been working closely 
with the Minister of Enrgy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and 
Trad (MFAT). 
 
 
BANDAR SER 00000039  002 OF 002 
 
 
COMMENT: WHAT IS THE IMPACT? 
----------------------------- 
6. (SBU) As Brunei reaches the two month mark following the floods, 
questions are being raised about the long term impact. Currently, 
flood relief fundraising appears to be the primary focus.  The 
public has started to ask, albeit quietly, when funds will be 
distributed and how. The Embassy and Ambassador Todd were praised 
publicly and privately for a quick reaction and we hope to build on 
the success of DAS Bryan's visit.  Our main concern is how 
responsive the government will be now the flood's effects are slowly 
fading from memory.  Embassy and DOE stand ready to assist and are 
moving forward with our initial plans. However, we still are not 
certain if the floods will have a long term impact on Brunei's 
planning and response to natural and man-made disasters. 
 
TODD