BY MA CHEE SENG and LEE SHAW WEI

KUCHING: Sarawak has earned the distinction of being a main provider of electricity, having supplied power to neighbouring Kalimantan with plans to do likewise for Sabah in 2024.

Minister of Utilities and Telecommunications Datuk Julaihi Narawi said it is in line with Sarawak’s aspiration to become an energy powerhouse in Southeast Asia by 2030 and reduce risks through market portfolio diversification.

According to Julaihi, the Ministry has already supplied electricity to Kalimantan through Sarawak Energy since 2016, and the average demand for electricity until last September was 89.6 megawatts (MW).

“The amount of energy exported is only two percent of the existing capacity which amounts to 5,996 MW,” he explained.

He revealed that Sarawak’s electricity consumption has now reached 4,398MW.

“This means that we still have a balance of 1,478MW available for domestic use and needs, including the connection under the ALAF Scheme (Additional Late Applicant Fund) that is currently being implemented.”

“The tariff on this exported energy is higher than the tariff on domestic energy,” he explained.

When asked about electricity supply to Sabah, he stated that it is still in the commercial negotiation stage.

He stated that Sarawak will supply up to 30 MW to Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB), with a target date of 2024 depending on the completion of the Northern Grid Extension project.