Latest news with #SabahElectricity
The Star
6 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Sabah cuts power outage duration by half, eyes sub-100 minute annual target by 2030
Chief Operating Officer Ir. Ts. Mohd Yusmanizam Mohd Yusof (pointing) inspecting one of the Distribution Automation system panels installed in Kundasang, Ranau. KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's average electricity interruption duration has more than halved over the past decade, and Sabah Electricity is now aiming to reduce it even further — to under 100 minutes annually by 2030. This goal is part of Sabah Electricity's strategic plan to enhance power reliability through the expansion of Distribution Automation systems, which have been progressively installed statewide since 2018. Chief Operating Officer Mohd Yusmanizam Mohd Yusof said the state's System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) was around 500 minutes in 2014, but had dropped to 207 minutes by 2024. 'With continued investments in automation, grid upgrades, and cable insulation, we're confident we can bring SAIDI to below 100 minutes by 2030,' he said when met during a visit to one of the Distribution Automation system sites in Kundasang. The system allows Sabah Electricity's control centre in Kota Kinabalu to remotely detect faults, isolate damaged segments, and restore supply to unaffected areas — without having to dispatch technicians to the scene. Without the system, teams would need to travel physically to the site, often delayed by traffic or weather, resulting in longer power restoration times. In the Ranau district — an interior highland area located about 110km east of Kota Kinabalu — the system has been operational since last year. The SAIDI there dropped from 230 minutes in the January-April period of 2024 to just 165 minutes this year, marking a nearly 30% reduction. Kundasang, previously one of the worst-hit areas with up to 800 minutes of disruptions annually per customer, has also seen significant improvement. So far, Sabah Electricity has installed Distribution Automation systems at 681 locations across Sabah and Labuan, including rural and interior areas such as Beluran, Tulupit and Kundasang. It aims to increase this to 1,250 locations by 2030. Yusmanizam said the utility provider's long-term transformation strategy includes replacing bare overhead lines with insulated cables, alongside adopting new digital infrastructure. 'With these combined efforts, we hope to match the reliability levels of Peninsular Malaysia, where the SAIDI currently stands at about 50 minutes,' he added.
Daily Express
7 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
ECoS pushes to Increase Energy Generation Capacity
Published on: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 Published on: Wed, May 28, 2025 Text Size: Datuk Ir. Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid, accompanied by delegations from ECoS and Sabah Electricity, visited several existing power stations and energy development project sites located at the West Coast of Sabah. Kota Kinabalu: The Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS) has conducted comprehensive monitoring and evaluation of key energy projects in Sabah, aligning with the commission's efforts to strengthen the electricity supply system in Sabah. Datuk Ir. Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid, accompanied by delegations from ECoS and Sabah Electricity, visited several existing power stations and energy development project sites located at the West Coast of Sabah. Locations visited included the SPR Energy Power Plant, Kimanis Power Plant, Sabah Oil & Gas Terminal (SOGT), Tenom Pangi Hydro Station, and two new project sites in Kimanis. The purpose of these visits was to assess project progress, ensure compliance with safety and technical standards, and evaluate the operational efficiency of existing power plants that play a crucial role in the stability of Sabah's electricity supply. 'This close monitoring is vital to ensure all projects are on schedule and can increase generation capacity. Both of these new projects will contribute 200MW of energy to the grid upon completion,' said Nasser. He also emphasized that these efforts are part of the Sabah State Government's commitment to address electricity supply issues and strengthen the state's energy sector holistically, in line with the goals outlined in the Sabah Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2040 (SE-RAMP 2040). Advertisement 'ECoS is committed to ensuring that every energy project in Sabah is developed and managed efficiently, safely, and sustainably. Close cooperation among government agencies, GLC companies, and industry players is key to the successful implementation of these projects,' he added. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * 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
27-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
ECoS strengthens efforts to increase energy generation capacity in Sabah
Abdul Nasser and delegations from ECoS and Sabah Electricity, visit one of the power stations and energy development project sites. KOTA KINABALU (May 27): The Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS) has conducted comprehensive monitoring and evaluation of key energy projects in Sabah, aligning with its efforts to strengthen the electricity supply system in Sabah. Its chief executive officer, Datuk Ir. Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid, accompanied by delegations from ECoS and Sabah Electricity, visited several existing power stations and energy development project sites located at the west coast of Sabah. Locations visited included the SPR Energy Power Plant, Kimanis Power Plant, Sabah Oil & Gas Terminal (SOGT), Tenom Pangi Hydro Station, and two new project sites in Kimanis. The purpose of these visits was to assess project progress, ensure compliance with safety and technical standards, and evaluate the operational efficiency of existing power plants that play a crucial role in the stability of Sabah's electricity supply. 'This close monitoring is vital to ensure all projects are on schedule and can increase generation capacity. Both of these new projects will contribute 200MW of energy to the grid upon completion,' said Nasser. He also emphasized that these efforts are part of the Sabah State Government's commitment to address electricity supply issues and strengthen the state's energy sector holistically, in line with the goals outlined in the Sabah Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2040 (SE-RAMP 2040). 'ECoS is committed to ensuring that every energy project in Sabah is developed and managed efficiently, safely, and sustainably. Close cooperation among government agencies, GLC companies, and industry players is key to the successful implementation of these projects,' he added.
Borneo Post
24-05-2025
- Climate
- Borneo Post
Survivors recall harrowing Tenom Pangi tragedy
The Tenom Pangi hydroelectric plant tragedy on October 30, 2022. – Photo courtesy from Sabah Electricity. TENOM (May 24): It was an ordinary day for auxiliary policeman Ailey Jamal when he began his evening shift at the Tenom Pangi hydroelectric plant on October 30, 2022. Despite the heavy rain, Ailey, 59, did not give much thought to the weather as he reported for duty just before 4 p.m. Sheltered inside the police guard house with his colleague Yunus, Ailey remembers watching the Padas River's rapid flow from the window. The river powers the Tenom Pangi hydroelectric station. Behind them stood a hill. A before and after photos of the Tenom Pangi hydroelectric plant tragedy on October 30, 2022. – Photo courtesy from Sabah Electricity. 'It was just a standard evening shift. We didn't think much of the thunderstorm,?said Ailey, who has served as an auxiliary policeman for 36 years with Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) – now renamed Sabah Electricity. At around 7.30 p.m., a deafening roar erupted from the hill. Curious and alarmed, the two stepped out to investigate. What followed was a nightmare ?a massive landslide tore down the hillside, trapping Ailey and Yunus inside the guard house as soil, rocks and trees crashed down. Restoration work being carried out at the water intake station of the Tenom Pangi hydroelectric plant. 'Both the front and back doors were blocked. There was a small gap at the back, about a meter wide. We tried crawling out, but the soil kept collapsing into it,?said Ailey. Just then, they saw a beam of light cutting through the dark. It came from Petrus A. Joanis, 55, a plant operator at the water intake station 100 meters away. Earlier, Petrus had noticed the river's rising level but didn't anticipate a disaster. Thhe Tenom Pangi hydroelectric plant engines back in full operation. 'There was a blackout, followed by a thundering sound from the hill. We managed to restore power after several attempts and raised the division gate to control water flow,?Petrus recalled. When he couldn't contact the guard house, a gut feeling prompted him to check. 'I saw the guard house buried under soil and debris, with only the roof visible. I started to head back when I heard Yunus yelling my name,?Petrus said. Realizing they were trapped, Petrus extended his hand through the narrow gap and pulled both men to safety. From left: Ailey, Petrus, Dasiri and Raffi looking through the Sabah Electricity book title 'Kisah SESB / The SESB Story', following the Re-Operation Ceremony and 40th Anniversary Celebration of the Tenom Pangi Hydroelectric Power Station on May 14, 2025. 'We ran immediately, fearing a second landslide,?he said. The trio returned to the water intake station, where they waited out the night with another colleague. Meanwhile, four kilometers deeper into the station, six other SESB staff and auxiliary police were also trapped. Mohd Raffi Yahya, 40, the shift leader at Tenom Pangi, received a warning call from Petrus about rising water levels around 7 p.m. 'I reduced the load from 66MW to 36MW and went outside to check the conditions,?said Raffi, a 16-year veteran of the plant. Minutes later, water poured into the lower levels of the power plant, flooding areas housing critical transformers and turbines. Believing a hilltop water tank had burst or overflowed, Raffi requested a total plant shutdown at 7.36 p.m. ?just as all communications went down. Using a PABX line, Raffi contacted the Load Dispatch Centre and requested a rescue. He then led his team through waist-deep floodwaters to a guard post on higher ground, a journey that took nearly an hour. As rescuers could not reach them due to the blocked access road, the six trapped workers and officers decided to walk out the next morning ?a five-hour trek to safety. Miraculously, all 10 workers, including four auxiliary police, escaped without injuries. Restoration and Recognition Following the disaster, SESB immediately launched restoration efforts. Among the key figures involved was Assistant Mechanical Engineer Jimi Sikul @ Dasiri, 60, who boasts 39 years of service. Originally from Keningau, Dasiri joined SESB (then Lembaga Letrik Sabah) in 1986 and was stationed at Tenom Pangi for many years. He was set to retire in 2024 but extended his contract by six months to oversee the plant's re-operation. 'My employer asked me to stay until everything was up and running. After June, I'll finally retire and spend time with my family,?said the father of eight, smiling proudly after receiving SESB's Excellent Service Award. A New Beginning On May 14, 2025, the Tenom Pangi Hydroelectric Power Station officially returned to full operation. The re-operation ceremony coincided with the plant's 40th anniversary and was officiated by Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Works, Datuk Shahelmey Yahya. Constructed in 1978 and completed in 1984, the Tenom Pangi station has long been vital in supplying energy to Tenom and its surrounding areas, playing a key role in Sabah's development.
Daily Express
23-05-2025
- General
- Daily Express
Fire damages hotel under construction
Published on: Friday, May 23, 2025 Published on: Fri, May 23, 2025 Text Size: Thick smoke coming from the construction site. Kota Kinabalu: Fire broke out at a 275-room hotel under construction, here, Thursday. The fire caused damage to the 15-storey Fairfield by Marriot before firefighters brought it under control. There were no casualties. It is understood more than 100 workers were working at the site when it happened. The Fire and Rescue Department received an emergency call at 9.56am and arrived at the scene by 10.01am. A total of 19 firefighters from various stations, including Kota Kinabalu, Penampang and Lintas, responded. The team used a 300-foot water jet stream from a fire engine to extinguish the flames. The fire was fully brought control by 10.25am and completely extinguished by 10.58am. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Other agencies, including the police, Sabah Electricity and the Water Department also assisted at the scene. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * 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
