RM3.22 bln needed for full electrification by 2025

The implementation of the 24-hour electricity supply strategies requires a total of RM3.22 billion for full electrification by 2025, the august house was told.

Minister of Public Utilities Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said an amount of RM2.37 billion had been approved by the Sarawak government for 2019 and 2020, which will power up 20,000 households, increasing the rural electrification coverage from 91 per cent to 97 per cent.

He said currently, nine per cent or about 29,600 of the rural households are without 24-hour electricity supply.

These strategies, he noted, involved the implementation of projects such as two Extra High Voltage substations namely Tatau 27SkV and Kanowit 132kV; nine numbers of 33kV substations that include a total of 500km length of 33kV Covered Conductor lines; three phases of last-mile distribution network to homes in 50 contract packages; and two phases of Sarawak Rural Electrification Scheme (Sares) standalone solar system.

He said the Sarawak government is now also implementing several strategies under the Sarawak Rural Electrification Masterplan to achieve full 24-hour electricity coverage.

The strategies, he said, were 33kV and below distribution grid extension; 132W and above transmission grid extension; and off-grid stand-alone renewable Sares system.

“For long term reliable and sustainable supply connection, grid connection is preferred where there is accessibility.

“The stand-alone Sares system is only for the remotest areas unreachable by grid,” he said in his winding-up speech.

He said for the most remote areas, stand-alone Sares solar projects were planned in five phases for 2016-2020.

Out of these five phases, he said three phases had been completed while the 2019 phase is at the tender and award stage.

When completed, all these five phases of Sares solar projects will benefit 425 villages with a total of about 12,300 households.