Save Sabah!

(Please see rebuttal at Bakun-Why Not?)

Kota Kinabalu: Transmitting electricity from the Bakun dam in Sarawak to Sabah is not viable due to many reasons, among them, being the cost and demand from consumers in the State.

In a statement, Thursday, Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) explained that it would cost billions of Ringgit while the demand for electricity in Sabah is only about 500MW.

“Such a large investment is better spent in Sabah by building a power plant which is more suited to the size of the demand in the State. This investment in Sabah will have a positive impact on the State’s economy and will reduce capital outflow from Sabah,” it said.

“Building a transmission line from Bakun to Sabah cuts across a great distance that includes mountainous regions and forest reserves. This will have great impact on the security of our systems.

“Any damage to the transmission line can result in a power outage for the whole of Sabah as the State is totally dependent on a single system.”

SESB pointed out that the large investment and high demand in the peninsula justified the commitment made to channel electricity from Bakun to the peninsula and Sarawak.

Even if electricity is purchased from Bakun for use in Sabah, the supply will be channelled to the West Coast, it said, adding, this will not help to provide balance to the current transmission system between the West Coast and the East Coast of Sabah.

“Based on these factors, Tenaga Nasional Berhad /SESB have decided that it is more cost-effective to abstain from securing electricity supply from the Bakun project in Sarawak for the time being.

“With the hydro potential in Sarawak estimated at 28,000MW, the opportunity for Sabah to secure supply of electricity from Sarawak is still wide open under SESB’s long-term plans for the State.

“Bakun’s hydro capacity at 2,400MW is just a small portion of the huge hydro potential available in Sarawak.”

The company said it is also in the process of identifying the potential of securing electricity supply from Sarawak via several potential hydro power plants in the state, such as in Lawas.

Meanwhile, SESB pointed out that the only practical option to address the on-going electricity supply crisis situation in the East Coast of Sabah is to build a coal-fired power plant.

“There is a need to provide balance to the electricity supply system in Sabah as currently the only source of generating electricity is from the West Coast.

“The East Coast is totally dependent on the West Coast and any damage to the transmission line or the generating system in the West Coast will result in a critical supply situation in the East Coast.

“This is because the existing generating system is not able to cater to the demand in the East Coast. It is critical that a power plant with a large generating capacity be developed in the East Coast to give support and balance to SESB’s entire generating system.”

It added that this has been supported and verified by consultants appointed to study the potential of energy resources in the East Coast.

“Nevertheless, SESB/TNB are still keeping options open in our effort to find alternative sources of electricity for the East Coast of Sabah.”

On the issue of Sabah’s hydro potential, SESB clarified that the statement made by Francis Xavier of the Energy Commission as quoted in a recent statement by Luyang Assemblywoman Melanie Chia was based on the findings of a study undertaken 25 years ago.

SESB, in cooperation with the Malaysian Electricity Supply Industry Trust Account, will undertake a new study on the current hydro potential in Sabah, it said.

“SESB wishes to express our appreciation to all sectors of the public for their views and comments on the electricity supply situation in Sabah.

“As a responsible public utility, SESB’s sole agenda is to ensure the people of Sabah can enjoy reliable and stable supply of electricity at reasonable prices.

“SESB will ensure that continuous programmes are implemented to stabilise Sabah’s supply system in the future.

“Based on our long-term planning, SESB has identified several areas with hydro potential for development in Sabah such as in Upper Padas (150MW) dan Liwagu (175MW).”

Popularity: 4% [?]

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.