Latest news with #MohdYaakobJaafar
The Star
16-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Sabah Electricity: S'wak grid project key to electricity goals
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is awaiting Sarawak's completion of its portion of the much-anticipated Sabah-Sarawak 275kV transmission grid interconnection project so that both states can proceed with their power supply plans, says Sabah Electricity chief executive officer Mohd Yaakob Jaafar. He said Sabah completed its portion last year but Sarawak is facing construction delays. 'There is indication that the Sarawak side aims to complete their part this year. But from what we've assessed, we might have to wait a little longer,' he said during a visit to the plant in Tenom on Wednesday. He said Sabah's power reserve is expected to increase by around 30MW, with the potential to increase to 300MW once the project is completed. According to Yaakob, this project is critical to Sabah's power reserve margin and efforts to provide consumers with a stable power supply. This project received an allocation of RM35mil from the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation. The Asean power grid interconnection project, which aims to connect the Philippines from Kufat to Pahlawan and from Lahad Datu to Mindanao, as well as link Indonesia through Tawau (Kalabakan) to north Kalimantan, faces numerous challenges that require attention from all involved parties. 'On our part, we are currently drafting a feasibility study for the interconnection from Tawau to north Kalimantan, and we have appointed consultants for this task,' he stated. However, he added that the grant previously received to conduct the study had been withdrawn due to a change in policies by the United States during Donald Trump's administration. 'We need to engage in discussions with our partner countries regarding the next steps for advancing this study,' he said.
Borneo Post
15-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Sabah-Sarawak power link boosted by completion of Mengalong PMU in Sipitang
Yaakob (center) during his visit to the 275kV Mengalong Main Input Substation (PMU) in Sipitang. SIPITANG (May 15): Sabah Electricity, together with the Sabah Electricity Supply Special Project Team (PPKBES) under the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation Malaysia (PETRA), has successfully completed the 275kV Mengalong Main Input Substation (PMU) in Sipitang. The Mengalong PMU is part of a key transmission grid interconnection project that will facilitate the exchange of electricity between Sabah and Sarawak. Sabah Electricity Chief Executive Officer Mohd Yaakob Jaafar said the Mengalong PMU was completed in September 2024, and he hopes the Sarawak section of the interconnection will be completed soon. 'The scope of this project also includes the construction of a 275kV high-voltage transmission grid tower and a seven-kilometre line from the Mengalong PMU in Sipitang to the Sarawak border,' he said during his visit to the PMU on May 14. Once commissioned, the Sabah-Sarawak interconnection grid will initially supply 30MW of electricity daily, with the potential to increase to 300MW. Yaakob added that the project will position Sabah's transmission grid as a 'gateway' for distributing energy to neighbouring countries such as the Philippines and Indonesia, contributing to the ASEAN Power Grid Interconnection initiative. 'In addition to the Sabah-Sarawak link, Sabah Electricity is also part of efforts to expand cross-border energy supply networks across ASEAN. This includes proposed connections to the Philippines via Palawan and from Lahad Datu to Mindanao, as well as a link between Tawau-Kalabakan and North Kalimantan, Indonesia,' he said. While discussions with the Philippines are ongoing, a feasibility study is actively underway for the Tawau-North Kalimantan connection. A trilateral meeting involving Malaysia, Indonesia, and Sabah Electricity, chaired by the ASEAN Charter, will be held in Jakarta. 'The Tawau-North Kalimantan grid connection is expected to be completed by 2030,' Yaakob said, reaffirming Sabah Electricity's commitment to ensuring regional energy stability. He also expressed gratitude to PETRA for approving RM35 million in funding for the Mengalong PMU project and thanked all departments and agencies involved. On the Sarawak section, Yaakob noted that construction has been delayed due to obstacles along the transmission line route from the Northern Grid to Lawas. 'The original plan was to complete the connection last year, but construction is still ongoing. Once completed under the Power Exchange Agreement, Sabah will begin by supplying 30MW of electricity, with potential expansion up to 300MW,' he said. Yaakob concluded by emphasizing that this initiative is vital for increasing Sabah's energy reserves and ensuring stable electricity supply for consumers. Some of the energy demand will be met through internal generation, while the remainder will be imported from Sarawak.
The Star
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Sabah awaits Sarawak's completion of power grid project
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is still waiting for Sarawak to complete its portion of the highly anticipated Sabah-Sarawak 275kV transmission grid interconnection project so that both states can proceed with power supply enhancement plans. Sabah Electricity Chief Executive Officer Mohd Yaakob Jaafar said Sabah completed its portion last year, but Sarawak is experiencing construction delays. "There is indication that the Sarawak side aims to complete their part this year, but from what we've assessed, we might have to wait a little longer," he said during a visit to the plant in Tenom on Wednesday (May 14). He said Sabah expects to see an increase of around 30MW in power reserve, which could potentially rise to 300MW once the project is completed. Yaakob said this project is crucial for Sabah's power reserve margin and in efforts to provide a stable power supply to users in the state. The project was completed with a RM35mil allocation from the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation. When asked about the Asean power grid interconnection project to the Philippines from Kudat to Palawan and from Lahad Datu to Mindanao, as well as to Indonesia via Tawau (Kalabakan) to North Kalimantan, he said there were still many issues to address. "For our part, we are drafting a feasibility study for the interconnection from Tawau to North Kalimantan, and consultants have been appointed," he said. However, due to changes in the United States government, the grant they received previously for this feasibility study has been withdrawn, said Yaakob. "So we need to discuss with our partner countries on how to move forward with this study," he said. A meeting is scheduled in Jakarta on Thursday (May 15), chaired by the Asean Centre of Energy with Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) in Indonesia and Sabah Electricity to discuss this and related matters, he said.
Daily Express
14-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Sabah completes its section of Sabah-Sarawak power grid link
Published on: Wednesday, May 14, 2025 Published on: Wed, May 14, 2025 By: Crystal Hermenegildus Text Size: The transmission towers. SIPITANG: Sabah Electricity (SE), in collaboration with the Special Project Team for Sabah Electricity Supply (PPKBES) under the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry (Petra), has completed the Sabah side of the 275kV transmission grid interconnection project linking Sabah and Sarawak. It's Chief Executive Officer, Mohd Yaakob Jaafar, said construction on the Sabah section was completed in September 2024, and efforts are ongoing to finish the Sarawak side soon. The project scope includes a 7-kilometre stretch of high-voltage 275kV transmission towers and lines, connecting the Main Intake Substation (PMU) in Mengalong here to the Sarawak border. "Once operational, the Sabah-Sarawak interconnection will initially transmit 30MW of electricity daily, with the potential to scale up to 300MW," he said on Wednesday. * 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. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
30-04-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Sabah Electricity honours outstanding staff
Award recipients with the SE chairman, board of directors, and senior management. KOTA KINABALU (April 30): Recognising outstanding employees is key to fostering a positive, productive, and innovative work environment, said Sabah Electricity (SE) Chief Executive Officer Mohd Yaakob Jaafar. He made the remark during the 2024 Excellent Service Awards Ceremony and the inaugural Sabah Electricity Top Achiever (SETA) 2024/2025 event, held last Friday. A total of 36 SE employees from both technical and non-technical departments were honoured for their dedication and outstanding service throughout 2024. 'Recognition such as this encourages proactive performance and inspires employees to believe in their potential and ability to contribute meaningfully to the success and growth of the organisation,' Mohd Yaakob said in a statement today. For the first time, SE introduced the SETA Awards to celebrate individuals and teams who have made exceptional contributions in driving the company's goals, values, and aspirations forward. Mohd Yaakob added that these awards not only serve as motivation but also energise the workforce to stay productive, committed, and loyal to the organisation. 'When diverse skills are brought together, teams generate collaborative creativity, improving the chances of achieving optimal solutions and outcomes. This shared innovation is what drives new ideas and ensures the company remains competitive and relevant,' he said. The SETA 2024/2025 awards were presented in the following categories: System Loss Award to Watimin Sahamin, Project Champion Award to the Civil, Facility Management & Special Projects Department, Innovation Digital Award to the MyNCS Group and CERA Department Kota Kinabalu Team Spirit Award to the SE Sports & Recreation Club. In addition to SETA, special recognition was given to employees who demonstrated exceptional dedication and a strong commitment to personal and professional development. Mohammad Fauzi Awang, Chief Engineer of Maintenance Special Services, Transmission Department, received the Rising Star Award for his outstanding performance, strong dedication, and active involvement in initiatives aimed at enhancing SE's service delivery. He was also recognised for presenting a technical paper at the 12th Asia Pacific International Conference on Lightning. The Inspiring Leadership Award went to Rachel Lim, a trailblazing female engineer who heads the Transmission Division. Rachel made history as the first Malaysian woman to be certified as a 275kV Electrical Services Engineer. Under her leadership, her team also earned the Outstanding Team Award for their cohesive and high-performing work culture. Hafizi Alfiasyah Polus Abdullah was recognised for his innovation and consistency in developing solutions such as the Meter House Project, which has helped reduce electricity loss in squatter areas of Semporna. Meanwhile, Budianto Joni received the Customer Choice Award for his unwavering dedication to customer service, handling challenging public interactions with professionalism and care. Mohd Yaakob emphasised that SE will continue implementing programmes to motivate staff, strengthen team dynamics, and enhance service delivery across all departments. 'I believe motivated employees will naturally strive for excellence, which ultimately benefits not only the individual but the organisation as a whole,' he said. He noted that SE upholds a high-performance culture rooted in shared values namely, Integrity, Customer First, Business Excellence and Compassion which continue to shape the company's success and reputation. 'Sabah Electricity is proud of its talented workforce, whose creativity and commitment drive exceptional outcomes,' he added. Moving forward, the SETA Awards will be held annually to honour employee achievements, promote a culture of excellence, encourage healthy competition, and foster teamwork across the organisation. The event was graced by SE chairman Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau, his wife Datin Seri Panglima Dr Jainah Sintian, as well as board members Datuk Brandon Keith Soh, Datuk Petrus Gimbad, and Huzairi Zainal Abdin. Also present were SE senior management and staff.
