Dr Abdul Rahman confident rural electrification achieved ahead of schedule
KUCHING: Works to supply electricity throughout Sarawak especially to the rural and remote areas are progressing well and expected to be completed ahead of schedule by one per cent.
In fact, works to connect electricity across the state have reached 90 per cent against the target to achieve full rural electrification by 2025, revealed Assistant Minister of Rural Electricity Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi.
“So we still have seven to eight years to power up the entire Sarawak but at the rate we are progressing, we are likely to complete the project earlier than anticipated, by one per cent ahead of schedule,” he told reporters when met at his Hari Raya open house held at Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka ( DBP) Sarawak auditorium, Petra Jaya here yesterday.
He shared that the changes in leadership and policy following the new development in political scenario today have somewhat helped to improve the delivery and implementation of electricity supply projects in rural and remote areas of Sarawak.
“In the past, we were very much dependent on federal allocation from the Rural and Regional Development Ministry and the Energy, Green Technology and Water Ministry,” he said.
“But since the announcement by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg that the state government will take over and provide the allocation temporarily for electrification projects, I am sure works can be accelerated,” he said.
Dr Abdul Rahman, who is also Pantai Damai assemblyman, added that works were late before because the projects had to go through extensive processes in Putrajaya in which he was directly involved.
Now with the funding coming from the Sarawak government, he believes it will speed up the implementation and bring electricity supply to rural and the remotest areas including through Sarawak Alternative Rural Electrification Scheme ( Sares) which was launched four to five years ago. Sares, he elaborated, involves two major components, namely solar and mini hydro, in which solar is divided into two types - solar only and solar hybrid using diesel.
“Moreover, we have local skilful talents to deliver the works. I am sure we can achieve full electrification in Sarawak earlier than anticipated,” he said.
However, he noted that the Sarawak government has yet to receive the black and white from the federal government on the financial arrangement as the full federal cabinet has yet to be appointed.
“We have not got information from them so far but at the moment, we can deliver works to the critical and very remote areas outside the grid through Sares which uses solar, solar hybrid and mini hydro,” he said.
“Efforts to achieve 100 per cent electrification in Sarawak is through power grid and alternative energy. Sares is meant to supply electricity to remotest areas mush faster which we target to be completed by 2021.
“With the second power grid just launched this year, if it can operate and function well, we can achieve full electrification by 2025,” he added.