SANDAKAN: Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) is in the final stages of completing a new mini power station in Sandakan in an effort to strengthen electricity generation capacity in the district.
SESB Senior General Manager (Asset Management) Idris Mohd Noor said the project located at the Mowtas Main Distribution Substation site near Batu Sapi is expected to be completed next month and is capable of generating 10 MegaWatt (MW) of electricity.
“The project, when completed, will benefit consumers around the district, apart from enhancing the State’s reserve margin,” he said after visiting the project site, Monday.
Two more mini power station projects at Labuk Power Station with a capacity of 30MW and Seguntor Main Distribution Substation (10MW) are expected to be completed by the end of this month.
He said overall 50MW could be generated by the three mini power stations that would be operational in stages beginning this month.
“The generation capacity from all projects will also increase the local generation volume from 78MW to 128MW daily.
“The mini power station construction is one of the interim steps taken by SESB while pending a permanent big power station to be completed by 2007.”
Meanwhile, Idris said aside from Sandakan, SESB is also working to add another 50MW capacity in Tawau and Labuan.
He said the capacity increase is one of SESB’s targets to overcome the issue of supply rationing this year.
“This is the most immediate action that can be taken to reduce power supply disruption,” he said.
He said the supply is now stable based on the demand and peak load in Sabah which are low.
“The present capacity can still cater for the current needs.”
However, he said additional capacity is also needed to prepare for the dry season, which is expected to begin in April and May.
