Latest news with #SabahElectricitySdnBhd
The Star
25-05-2025
- Health
- The Star
Water lifeline in the works for Tangkarason, says Sabah minister
An aerial view of Kampung Tangkarason in Paitan, showing the newly rebuilt health clinic and surrounding rural landscape. SANDAKAN: The Sabah government is working to connect drought-stricken Tangkarason to a proper water supply system after weeks of public concern over the village's reliance on crocodile-infested rivers and muddy ponds. State Community Development and People's Wellbeing Minister Datuk James Ratib said the remote village in Beluran has been given priority under the Rural Water Supply Programme. 'A plan is in place to connect Tangkarason to a main pipe from the Paitan trunk line. Discussions are ongoing with the Water Department, and the district office has been instructed to arrange for temporary supply to the village health clinic,' he said. Tangkarason is in the Paitan sub-district, a remote and sparsely populated area known for its rugged terrain and scattered settlements. It was previously reported that Tangkarason's 3,000 residents have long struggled without piped water, relying on unsafe rivers and ponds — some inhabited by crocodiles — for their daily needs. During the current dry spell, even these sources have become dangerously scarce, forcing villagers to ration water and risk their safety daily. James, who is also the Sugut assemblyman, said the water issue is especially urgent for the village's health clinic, which recently resumed operations in a permanent building after months of operating temporarily from a community hall. 'The clinic is running now, but it still needs basic utilities like piped water. That's our next step,' he said, adding that the power supply is currently through generators, with longer-term plans involving Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd. Datuk James Ratib at the Paitan district-level Kaamatan Festival 2025. He was speaking when met at the launching of the Paitan district-level Kaamatan Festival over the weekend. Paitan district officer Joe Joloning Majambu, who was also present, said efforts to address the water issue were raised at the district-level disaster management committee and have since been escalated to relevant state agencies. He added that the proposed water supply extension to Tangkarason had been approved in principle under the 12th Malaysia Plan, with funding pending from the Federal Government. 'If approved, the water supply will benefit not only Tangkarason but also four to five neighbouring villages, including two schools,' he said. Joe said electricity remains a challenge in the area, but the federal Rural and Regional Development Ministry had approved the rollout of solar hybrid systems in several nearby villages. As for road access, he confirmed that the current route used by villagers is through a palm oil estate after the original access was taken over. 'The road to Tangkarason has been shortlisted for upgrading by the Public Works Department. We know clean water alone is not enough if we can't reach these places,' he said. Winnie Mogak, a small trader in the village, said she has to buy about 20 cartons of bottled water every month just to meet her family's daily needs. 'The ponds have dried up. Even the rivers turn salty during the drought, so we can't use them. 'The only way we get water now is from rainwater catchments or wells. That's all we have,' she said. She urged the government to expedite the piped water project, saying clean water should no longer be a luxury for the people of Tangkarason. 'We're tired of waiting. Clean water is not a privilege — it's our right,' she said.
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.
The Star
08-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
PetGas to co-develop to develop 120MW power plant in Labuan
PETALING JAYA: Petronas Gas Bhd (PGB) has entered into shareholders agreements with Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd and Sabah Energy Corp Sdn Bhd to develop a new power plant with a capacity of 120 megawatts in the Federal Territory of Labuan. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, PGB said the project is pursuant to a letter of notification dated Feb 21 from the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation. 'The parties intend to collaborate via a joint venture company, namely, Rancha Power Sdn Bhd, for the design, development, construction, installation, testing, commissioning, ownership, operation and maintenance of the said power plant and associated facilities with target of commercial operation date no later than Jan 1, 2028.' PGB said the project aligns with its strategy to expand its presence in the energy sector and contribute to sustainable energy development in Malaysia. 'This project is expected to enhance the energy supply in Federal Territory of Labuan and Sabah as part of Sabah Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2040. 'The project will be funded through internally generated funds and external financing,' it said.
Daily Express
03-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
RM408.2 million for Sabah BESS project
Published on: Saturday, May 03, 2025 Published on: Sat, May 03, 2025 By: Bernama Text Size: The BESS project, valued at RM644.6 million, was awarded by Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) in September 2024 and is located in Lahad Datu, Sabah. Kuala Lumpur: AmBank Group has approved a financing facility totalling RM408.2 million to MSR Green Energy Sdn Bhd (MSRGE) to partially fund its working capital requirements for a landmark 100 megawatt (MW)/400 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery energy storage system (BESS) project. In a joint statement, both parties said the BESS project, valued at RM644.6 million, was awarded by Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) in September 2024 and is located in Lahad Datu, Sabah. 'Upon completion, the facility will be one of the largest battery storage systems in Southeast Asia and the first energy storage facility in Sabah, with a final installed capacity of 517 MWh. 'It is designed to enhance grid stability, increase reserve margins during peak demand periods, and enable the further expansion of power plants in the region,' they said. AmBank Group managing director of business banking Christopher Yap said the financing marks a significant step in supporting Malaysia's transition towards a more resilient and sustainable energy landscape. 'By supporting this advanced energy storage infrastructure, we reaffirm our commitment to sustainable financing and the development of renewable energy,' he added. Meanwhile, MSRGE director Ong Kah Hui said that with AmBank's invaluable financing support, the large-scale battery energy storage project represents a pivotal step towards realising a shared vision of a greener future. 'This initiative not only addresses Sabah's power supply and grid stability needs, but also lays a robust foundation for the integration of future renewable energy plants into the region's infrastructure,' he said. * 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
New Straits Times
02-05-2025
- New Straits Times
27 wanted individuals among 162 nabbed in Sabah operations
KOTA KINABALU: The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Sabah contingent police headquarters detained 162 individuals, including 27 wanted persons, during a 17-day operation that ended on April 30. The operation began with Op Mega Lusuh/Kesan before continuing with Op Pintu/Kesan, conducted statewide. It was part of a broader effort to combat housebreaking and theft, apprehend individuals wanted by the police, and address crimes related to the illegal trade of scrap materials. Sabah CID chief Datuk Azmi Abdul Rahim said a total of 155 raids were conducted and premises inspected. "During the operation, 135 suspects were arrested for various offences, while 27 individuals wanted by the police were successfully apprehended. "For Op Pintu/Kesan Mega, various items worth RM171,262.40 were seized, involving 45 housebreaking cases and other offences that were successfully solved," he said in a statement today. The second phase of the operation, Op Mega Lusuh/Kesan, was subsequently launched to tackle criminal cases such as cable theft and other theft-related crimes. It involved participation from all district police headquarters across Sabah. "The operation was carried out in collaboration with other agencies such as local authorities, Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd, and telecommunications companies. "Throughout the operation, 76 individuals arrested for various offences and 19 wanted persons successfully detained. "Items worth RM455,874 were seized, in addition to action taken against premises buying scrap items without a licence or dealing in stolen goods," he said.
