OGOS 2021
Sarawak Ink Agreements With Sabah To Interconnect, Sell Electricity
KUCHING, Fri: Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) and Syarikat SESCO Berhad (SESCO), a subsidiary of Sarawak Energy today signed a Power Exchange Agreement and an Interconnection Agreement, marking a historic milestone in the journey towards materialising the Borneo Grid and the wider ASEAN Power Grid.
The agreements will pave the way for an initial export of 30MW for a term of 15 years via a 31km 275kV double circuit transmission line which will run from Lawas in Sarawak to Mengalong in Sabah.
The interconnection is expected to commence by end 2023, once the grid expansion under the Sarawak Energy’s Northern Agenda has connected Miri to the northern towns of Limbang and Lawas in Sarawak.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji bin Haji Noor and Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg witnessed the virtual signing ceremony between both energy companies.
Joining them were Sarawak State Secretary, Datuk Amar Jaul Samion; Sarawak Minister for Utilities, Dato Sri Dr. Stephen Rundi Utom; Sarawak Assistant Minister for Utilities (Rural Electricity), Datuk Liwan Lagang; and Sarawak Energy Chairman, Datuk Amar Abdul Hamed Sepawi.
Also present were Sabah Deputy State Secretary (Development), Datuk Ir. Richard Jomiji Kinsil; Sabah Attorney General Yang Arif Datuk Nor Asiah Mohd Yusof; Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) Chairman, Dato’ Seri Mahdzir Khalid; and TNB Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Baharin Din.
The Power Exchange Agreement and Interconnection Agreement were signed on behalf of SESB by its Chief Executive Officer Datuk Ir. Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid while Datu Haji Sharbini Suhaili, Group Chief Executive Officer for Sarawak Energy signed on behalf of SESCO. The signings were witnessed by Hjh. Zunaidah Osman, SESB Company Secretary and Lau Kim Swee, Chief Executive Officer for SESCO.
In his congratulatory remarks during the event, Sabah’s Chief Minister said the state government welcomes the good initiative and collaboration which will support the development agenda under Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ), and the growth of the industrial sector in Sabah as a whole.
“We do believe the collaboration will also assist in creating employment opportunities both in heavy and light industrial sectors in Sabah and boost the social-economy particularly in the rural areas,” he said before witnessing the signing ceremony from Pusat Pentadbiran Negeri Sabah in Kota Kinabalu.
He added that it is hoped that the inked agreement will establish good cooperation between the governments of Sabah and Sarawak in all future undertakings.
Sarawak Chief Minister also congratulated the two power utilities for working together on the interconnection project, which will foster shared learning and encourage greater collaboration in the region.
“This collaboration brings us a step closer to a sustainable energy future for our people and beyond as we can share our renewable energy resources with our neighbours, further contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions in the region, as well as ensure energy supply security and bilaterally optimised operation costs while attracting investments for economic transformation in the Borneo region,” he said.
He added that building upon the proven success of its renewable energy development strategy, Sarawak Energy is spearheading the Green Energy Agenda to promote a low carbon economy and transportation through the development of cleaner energy alternatives such as hydrogen and solar.
Noting that Sarawak is already selling power to Kalimantan Barat via the Mambong-Bengkayang interconnection since January 2016, the Chief Minister said Sarawak aspires to be the “battery” for the region with its strength in renewable power generation from its various hydro-electric dams.
Meanwhile, in his welcome remarks, Mahdzir said, “As approved by the Electricity Supply and Tariff Planning and Implementation Committee (JPPPET), the 275kV Sabah Sarawak interconnection line is the first project connecting electricity supply between the two states aimed at strengthening the stability of electricity supply.”
He added that the signing of the agreement was paramount in line with SESB Sustainability Plan and the aspiration of BIMP-EAGA and the Heads of ASEAN Power Utilities/Authorities (HAPUA).
Sumber dari : Sarawakku