By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s electricity reserve margin will reach 26 per cent by year-end, up from just eight per cent in 2024, after the state took over regulatory control of its power supply, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said.
The reserve stood at 19 per cent as of August, he said after chairing the Sabah Energy Council meeting at Menara Kinabalu here yesterday.
Power interruptions have also fallen sharply. The System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) improved from 598 minutes in 2023 to 226 minutes as of July this year.
“Previously, we had to wait four to five years to get applications approved by the Federal Energy Commission. Since we took over, we can get it done ourselves and improve our electricity supply system quickly,” Hajiji said.
Sabah assumed regulatory control for electricity and renewable energy after the State Legislative Assembly passed three laws on Jan 3, 2024 — the Electricity Supply Enactment 2024, Sabah Renewable Energy Enactment 2024, and the ECoS Amendment Enactment 2024. It had taken control of its gas supply a year earlier.
Hajiji said strengthening efforts must include transmission and distribution to improve reliability and resilience, in line with the Sabah Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2040 (SE-RAMP 2040) and the target of a 50 per cent renewable energy capacity mix by 2035.
The Council reviewed the Long-Term Demand Forecast Study (LTDF2026) and the Power Development Plan (PDP2026) for the next 10 years.
To secure supply on the East Coast, the state is planning gas-fired plants in Sandakan and Tawau to replace high-cost diesel and medium fuel oil (MFO) plants.
Large-scale solar (LSS) and battery energy storage systems (BESS) will be added through competitive bidding to improve generation reliability on the East Coast, he said.
“Every decision by the Sabah Energy Council must be balanced and prudent, with priority given to security of supply, optimal system costs, industry requirements and the interests of consumers in enjoying electricity at affordable rates,” he said.
The Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS), as the state’s energy regulator, will monitor approved projects to ensure timely completion.
Hajiji shakes hands with one of the senior officers after the Sabah Energy Council meeting.
