Generate 70pc of Sabah’s needs before moving to renewable energy: Madius
Published on: Tuesday, September 19, 2023
By: FMT
Text Size:
Tangau said the dependency on IPPs is the reason for frequent power disruptions in the state. - Bernama pic
PETALING JAYA: Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) must generate at least 70 per cent of the state’s base load power requirement before venturing into renewable energy, says Tuaran MP Wilfred Madius Tangau.
He said the base load refers to the minimum level of power that can reliably meet demand over a period of 24 hours.
ADVERTISEMENT
Currently, SESB only generates and owns 20 per cent of this base load power. The rest is said to be purchased from independent power producers (IPPs).
“We must first solve the power disruption problems first. To do this, SESB must own at least 70 per cent of the base load power generation (about 700MW) and must generate its own electricity because we need to have better control,” he said in a statement.
Tangau said the dependency on IPPs is the reason for frequent power disruptions in the state.
Last month, a power disruption occurred at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) because of faulty internal wiring.
ADVERTISEMENT
SESB senior general manager Idris Noor said there were no disruptions in the electricity supply system from the SESB-owned electrical substation that provided power to KKIA on the day of the incident.
“Since 80 per cent of power supply in Sabah is generated by IPPs, SESB’s hands are tied in many matters relating to power generation in the state,” Tangau said, before calling for SESB to scrutinise the reason behind the state’s load shedding.
ADVERTISEMENT
He said the state should emulate Sarawak Energy Bhd in owning all generation plants, without depending on IPPs.
He also said SESB had invested a significant amount of money on studies for power generation projects at multiple locations. However, the company was not entrusted with implementing the projects.
Tangau said he had conducted dialogue sessions with both state and federal representatives in Sabah, aimed at uniting them in empowering SESB to make decisions regarding future power generation projects.
“Their response has been positive so far, with all of them supporting SESB.
“Moving forward, when SESB proposes a project, we hope to get support from all the parties as well as the government,” he said.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
* Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss.* Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
