Sabah Shell to help two more villages

Remote communities to get electricity

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Shell Petroleum Company Ltd has stepped in to assist two more villages in Sabah to receive sustainable electricity through a collaboration with local NGOs.

It has signed a RM300,000 deal with NGOs Tonibung and Pacos Trust in the project to provide sustainable energy solutions to the remote villages of Kampung Buayan and Kampung Tiku in Penampang.

The project is expected to begin next year. According to Sabah Shell general manager Prithipal Singh, the project is the second initiative after the successful development of a micro-hydro power generation for Kampung Sabibingkol in the interior Pensiangan district which borders Indonesia’s Kalimantan.

He said through the partnership with Tonibung, the solar and hydro power-generated electricity project for Sabingkol was fully commissioned last month.

All 42 households in Sabibingkol are now receiving sustainable energy.

This initiative will also enable villagers to increase their income and improve their livelihood.

“This option was not available before due to the inconsistency of electricity supply,” Prithipal said at the signing ceremony here.

The Shell Sabah partnership project is likely to see a new micro hydro-turbine located in between Kampung Buayan and Kampung Tiku.

The hydro-turbine is expected to generate a total of 38.8kW of electricity, double of what was initially available to meet the energy requirements of about 70 households in both villages.

Prithipal said with the success of the team’s efforts in Sabibingkol, it was clear that the “Access to Energy” (A2E) programme was replicable and scalable to fit the needs of other communities that were not connected to the national grid.

“As such, we have committed RM300,000 a year up to 2020 to help communities in remote areas to have access to affordable and sustainable electricity supplies,” he said.

State Rural Development Minister Datuk Ewon Benedict commended Sabah Shell’s efforts as many remote areas of the state still did not have access to basic amenities, including electricity.

He said his ministry was working with the state Forestry Department to find solutions to villagers living within water catchment areas.

“This is because any development project, including those to provide basic amenities, are restricted in protected areas,” he said.