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Power generation up to meet demand

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KUCHING: The current grid generating capacity in the state is at 3,544MW to meet the power demand of 3,315MW in 2016 compared to about 3,000MW in 2015.

Minister of Rural Electricity and Water Supply Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said the new 624MW Balingian coal-fired power station is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2018, the 421MW Tanjung Kidurong combined-cycle gas-fired plant by the fourth quarter of 2019, while the 1,300MW Baleh hydroelectric plant is scheduled to be completed in 2025.

“The rapid increase in grid generating capacity is supported by enhancement of existing transmission lines and construction of new ones to improve the reliability of electricity supply to major load centres.

“This is especially crucial as the state moves forward in realising the vision of a digital economy to leap-frog economic growth and in the face of increasingly high expectation from consumers and potential investors,” he said when delivering his winding-up speech at the State Legislative Assembly sitting yesterday.

Dr Rundi said the 500kV second transmission backbone stretching across the state from Similajau to Lachau would be completed in the middle of this year while the stretch from Lachau to Tondong is expected to be completed by end of this year.

“The second backbone transmission line provides an alternative route to transmit power from major generating sources located in the northern Sarawak to major load centres such as Sibu, Sarikei, Sri Aman and Kuching in the southern region.

“The risk of major outages in the southern region will thus be mitigated as supply continuity is maintained in the event of tripping of the existing transmission lines,” he said.

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