Kota Kinabalu: In 2017, Sabah Shell Petroleum Co Ltd (SSPC) launched Access to Energy (A2E), a Shell Social Investment programme aimed at providing affordable and continuous supply of electricity from renewable sources for communities who live without connection to the electricity grid.
SSPC collaborated with local non-governmental partners, TONIBUNG and PACOS Trust, and started a pilot project at Kampung Sabibingkol in Pensiangan, Sabah. The 42 families in this village were initially relying primarily on portable generators that require petrol or diesel that can reach a high of about RM6.70 per litre.
.%5B1%5D.jpg)
Shell alongside its partners offers fundamental education to the children of Kampung Sabibingkol through Access To Energy.
The Sabibingkol community alongside TONIBUNG, and Shell employee volunteers, worked together to install a hybrid micro-hydro system and solar grids to ensure continuous sustainable electricity even amidst the changing monsoon seasons that affect this region. With the completion of the system, the community was also trained to perform basic maintenance activities for the system to ensure that they are capable to sustain the infrastructure for the long term.
Children in the villages empowered through fruitful and fun community engagements.
According to Siti Sulaiman, Country Chair of Shell Malaysia and Senior Vice-President, Upstream Malaysia, a Socio-Economic Development Centre was established for the benefit of the community to learn new cottage industries which is currently being run by the women of Sabibingkol. Through trainings conducted by PACOS Trust, and their new-found supply of electricity, they can now pursue alternative sources of livelihood for their families.
Siti Sulaiman, Country Chair of Shell Malaysia and Senior Vice-President, Upstream Malaysia
With the results from the pilot project in Sabibingkol, Shell went on to commit in the provision of A2E solutions to another Sabahan village, Kampung Buayan-Tiku, benefitting the 70 families living there. Here, a new micro hydro turbine which was installed and connected, enabled villagers to now enjoy electricity for lighting their households, refrigerators and appliances.
The women in the village busy with their socio-economic activity alongside Shell representatives.
“Our aim here is to build energy and economic resilience among the communities through the access of micro-hydro and solar technology. Villagers now have continuous running electricity to earn their livelihoods and sustain themselves. Socio-economic trainings are also provided to these villagers through our partnership with TONIBUNG and PACOS Trust,” Siti further added.
Shell Malaysia aims to continue providing affordable energy that enables improvements in socio-economic activities and education, while committing to further uplift the rural communities through its A2E programme. Additionally, A2E also focuses on powering the lives of the communities through the provision of cleaner and more efficient energy. This is part of Shell’s Powering Progress strategy, where significant impact is created through meaningful contributions to the community where it operates in.
To learn more, please visit
https://www.shell.com.my/sustainability/communities/access-to-energy.html
