KUCHING: Sarawak Energy recently achieved a key milestone with the successful commissioning of the 166km Murum to Samalaju B 275kV Transmission Line.
In a press statement by Sarawak Energy, it stated that the milestone further strengthened the reliability of Sarawak’s overall power system by enhancing transmission security and capacity for current and future load growth, in particular for bulk power customers located in the Samalaju Industrial Park, under the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).
Sarawak Energy added that with the energisation of Murum to Samalaju B 275kV Transmission Line, the Samalaju B 275kV Substation was now connected to Murum HEP 275kV Outdoor Substation.
“The commissioning provides a second power evacuation source from the Murum Hydroelectric Plant (HEP), significantly enhancing reliability in the delivery of power from major generating facilities in the northern region into the western part of Sarawak, including Kuching,” the statement said.
Commenting on the milestone, Sarawak Energy group chief executive officer Datuk Sharbini Suhaili highlighted that in addition to enhancing supply reliability for Sarawak’s overall power system, the transmission line completion enabled Sarawak Energy to fulfil its commitment to meet demand from energy intensive customers and accommodate future capacity growth.
Sharbini emphasised that as the catalyst for SCORE, the Group would continue to improve the reliability of electricity supply to industrial parks as well as homes and businesses throughout Sarawak and beyond by continuing to invest in a more modern, efficient and reliable power system.
“This will strengthen capacity and the ability of our supply network system to deliver affordable, reliable and predominantly renewable energy to our customers.”
Sarawak Energy executive vice-president for project delivery, Ir Pramod Kumar said the transmission line project commenced on Dec 1, 2016 and was successfully energised on Dec 29, 2022, following delays caused by persistent land and wayleave challenges and a severe shortage of skilled workers attributed to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“However, we are pleased to have been able to work closely with the relevant authorities who have supported and implemented positive measures to facilitate earlier arrivals of foreign workers to help mitigate the delays.
“We thank the Sarawak government, especially the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication, and the State Steering Committee for Sarawak Energy’s projects chaired by the permanent secretary for Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development (MUDeNR) for their support and guidance which has helped to accelerate the completion of several transmission line projects.”
Under the guidance of the Sarawak government through the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication, Sarawak Energy aspires to achieve full electrification for the state by 2025, ahead of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UNSDG) 7 target of 2030.
Sarawak Energy is now Malaysia’s largest renewable energy producer, the Sarawak government-owned company recorded 99.2% overall domestic electricity coverage and 97.9% rural electricity coverage in 2022, through a mixture of electrification initiatives under the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication.
This marks a significant improvement over the electrification rate in 2009 when overall state coverage was at 79% while rural coverage stood at 56%.
