Steps taken to improve quality, stability of electricity supply, says minister
THE Momentary Average Interruption Frequency Index (Maifi) would be introduced to complement the System Average Interruption Duration Index (Saidi) and System Average Interruption Frequency Index (Saifi) under the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, said Datuk Julaihi Narawi.
The Utility and Telecommunication Minister said this would be in line with efforts to further improve the quality and stability of electricity supply, especially in the use of digital equipment.
“Under the PCDS 2030 initiative, my ministry aims for Saidi not to exceed 60 minutes per year while for Saifi, the aim here is for it not to exceed once a year by the year 2030. This is to increase the level of reliability of electricity supply to achieve the aspiration of being a world-class utility provider,” he said during his ministerial winding-up speech. He told the august House that Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) had improved the level of performance of the distribution system to consumers through continuous improvement and modernisation of the system.
“For the year 2022, Saidi is targeted not to exceed 72 minutes and Saifi is targeted not to exceed 1.02 times.
“As of October 2022, the recorded Saidi is 64.2 minutes, while Saifi is 0.8 times,” he said.
Julaihi said at present, the total general capacity in Sarawak is 5,996 megawatts (MW) and this is sufficient to cover the current demand of 4,398MW.
“This total consumption is estimated to increase to 4,680MW in 2023 and 5,000MW in 2025,” he said.
He also said that in order to meet the increasing demand for electricity supply, new power stations are currently being planned and under construction with a total capacity of 2,577MW.
“They are the Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) in Miri with a capacity of 400MW; CCGT in Samalaju (842MW); the floating solar system at Batang Ai Dam (50MW); and Baleh Dam (1,285MW),” he said, adding that these power stations are expected to be completed between 2023 and 2028.
He said under the Northern Grid Extension projects, the 275 kilovolt (kV) substation in Bunut, Miri, is under construction and scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2023. It will be connected to Similajau, Miri, Limbang and Lawas through a 275kV transmission line.
“With the completion of this project, parts of Limbang and Lawas will be connected to Sarawak’s electricity grid line which is expected to be completed by 2024. This is subject to the issue of past permits where Sarawak Energy together with related agencies are actively resolving the issue,” he said.
On a related matter, Julaihi said applications to generate electricity by domestic, commercial and industrial users under the Net Energy Metering Scheme (NEM) can be made at the Sarawak Energy customer service counter.
“This NEM scheme will give users the opportunity to play an important role in environmental conservation and deal with the effects of climate change. So far two users under the NEM Scheme have been operating while three more applications are still in the approval process,” he said.
He also called on members of the august House to participate, promote and encourage domestic users in their respective constituencies to take up the scheme.