A COAL-FIRED plant and other alternative power generation sources will not be the top priority when it comes to resolving Sabah’s power woes yet, said Energy, Technology, Science, Climate Change and Environment Minister Yeo Bee Yin said today.

She said the main focus at present was to resolve the state’s transmission and distribution weaknesses, saying Sabah’s energy reserve margin was adequate. 

“Sabah’s power reserve margin stands at 32%, similar to Peninsular Malaysia, but the number of interruptions in Sabah is four times higher than in the peninsula. 

“If the reserve margin are so similar, by right, Sabah’s quality of service should mirror the peninsula’s. 

“One of the problems is weak power lines across the state,” she said after briefing Sabah Chief Minister Shafie Apdal on the direction of the state’s power sector in Kota Kinabalu today. 

Sabah environmental groups have been up in arms after the idea of re-starting a coal-fired power plant was raised by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the 22nd Conference of the Electric Power Supply Industry (CEPSI) 2018 recently.

Yeo said most energy projects in Sabah will focus on improving distribution and transmission lines, set to be completed by 2021. 

“It will take a long time to complete it as the present system loss in Sabah is double that of Peninsular Malaysia. 

“The federal project will be completed in two years and upon this, power interruptions in Sabah will go down 50%,” she said. 

On the generation side, Yeo said the use of coal, gas and hydro power plant were being considered but no decision has been made as yet. 

However, she gave her assurance that once the federal government had come to a decision, it would be the most reliable, affordable and sustainable solution. 

Meanwhile, Shafie said Sabah should emulate Sarawak, whose Bakun Dam has been successful. 

Despite opposition by environmental groups and politicians, the state was now reaping the benefits of excess electricity supply, which it could sell to Sabah. 

“Not only do they (Sarawak) have excess supply, they also enjoy a sharp drop in power disruptions, and they are selling it cheaper to consumers,” he said. – October 23, 2018.