THE Sarawak Utilities Ministry has stepped in to revive all 23 Rural Electrification Scheme (RES) projects, located mainly in the northern region, that are significantly behind schedule.

Minister Stephen Rundi Utom said this is part of the state government’s efforts to realise the goal of full electricity coverage in five years’ time.

“We will continue to do our best to achieve the target of 97% rural electricity coverage in the coming months, and full, statewide coverage by 2025,” he said in a statement today.

The federal government awarded the RES projects to third-party contractor Citra Alti Sdn Bhd. Works to supply power to villages were supposed to be done by 2017, but were halted due to difficulties faced by the company.

“Of the total, 10 projects, involving 26 villages and 633 households, were taken over by the state government and (state-owned electricity company) Sarawak Energy Bhd at the end of 2019,” said Rundi.

He said the Sarawak government is in the process of taking over the remaining 13 projects, involving 18 villages and 358 households, from Citra Alti, adding that recovery works have begun.

The 23 projects are in addition to 81 ongoing ones under the state’s Accelerated Rural Electrification Master Plan worth RM2.37 billion. – Bernama, June 29, 2020.