‘Target of 24-hour electricity coverage by 2025 achievable’
JULAU: The Ministry of Utilities is committed to reaching the goal of ensuring that all households in Sarawak would enjoy 24-hour electricity supply by 2025.
In stating this, Assistant Minister of Utilities (Rural Electricity) Datuk Liwan Lagang says based on the encouraging progress in the implementation of electricity supply projects in the rural areas, the ministry is confident of achieving the target.
According to him, the rural electricity supply coverage in Sarawak increased from 56 per cent in 2009, to 93 per cent last year.
“Despite having to face the challenges posed by the scattered nature of households in the rural areas, I am confident that the ministry could supply the remaining seven per cent – or 22,360 households – with electricity by 2025,” he said in his remarks after witnessing the official handover of a solar power system project to three longhouses at Rumah Jepun, Rantau Panjai in Sungai Masit here yesterday.
Longhouse chieftains Tuai Rumah (TR) Jepun Jamit, TR Japok Imang and TR Sat Andil were present to ‘symbolically accept’ the RM3.33-million project, implemented under Sarawak Alternative Rural Electrification Scheme (Sares) Phase III.
Adding on Liwan, who is Belaga assemblyman, said the Sarawak government had allocated RM2.3 billion to ensure that all households, both in urban and rural areas in Sarawak could enjoy 24-hour electricity supply.
On Sares, he described it as short-term programme to provide 24-hour electricity power supply to the remote pockets across Sarawak.
“The state government’s main focus is to connect all longhouses and villages to the main power grid.
“In this respect, the construction of two high-voltage substations has been planned in Tatau, which is to have a 275kV substation, and Kanowit with a 132kV substation).
“To provide electricity under RES (Rural Electrification Scheme), another 10 (units of) 33kV substations – including the installation of 500km of 33kV-covered cables – would be extended by the state government, in phases.
“These projects would be launched through open tender,” he added.
Back on Sares, Liwan said RM600 million had been allocated under Phase I to V of Sares Masterplan to provide 24-hour electricity to 12,000 households in 400 villages and longhouses throughout Sarawak.
“Today, apart from the 202 folk from the 27-door Rumah Jepun, we also witness another 100 residents of the six-door Rumah Japok, and 115 villagers of 23-door Rumah Sat get to enjoy 24-hour electricity supply provided under Sares,” he said, adding that under Sares, there is no tariff charge imposed on the consumers.
Meanwhile, Meluan assemblyman Rolland Duat Jubin said although Sares served as ‘a temporary solution to rural electrification woes’, it still incurred a substantial cost for the state government to implement.
According to him, it costs about RM60,000 to extend the service to every longhouse unit.
Nevertheless, he assured the longhouse folk in Ensiring, Lijan and Mujok that they would be the next to enjoy Sares.
Later, Liwan announced allocations of RM7,000 for Rumah Jepun security and development committee (JKKK), and RM3,000 for its women’s bureau.