KOTA KINABALU (Bernama) – The Sabah Energy Council (MTS) has approved, in principle, a total of 723 megawatts (MW) in new power generation projects to meet the state’s medium-term electricity needs.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the approvals covered 360MW from gas-fired plants in Kimanis and Tawau, along with 363MW from renewable sources, including hydro and wind. These projects have received conditional technical and commercial clearance.

“All decisions must be made with balance and prudence, taking into account the state’s economic growth, industrial demands and the public’s capacity to bear energy costs,” he said after chairing the MTS meeting Tuesday.

Hajiji said MTS continues to serve as the state’s highest platform for aligning energy policy and noted that several fast-track projects approved last year are already delivering results.

Sabah’s generation reserve margin has also risen from 10 per cent in January 2023, before the Sabah Energy Commission (ECoS) assumed regulatory authority, to 17 per cent currently, with a target of 30 per cent by year-end.

Hajiji added that these fast-track efforts have helped reduce the state’s System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI), from 363 minutes in the first half of 2023 to 215 minutes in the same period this year, and further down to 162 minutes in the latest reporting period.

Hajiji also called for greater empowerment of state-linked companies (GLCs) to play a mor significant role in Sabah’s energy landscape.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin