Hydropower key to ending blackouts in Sabah

Free Malaysia Today

The state has amended legislation for better control of electricity and pushing ahead with sustainable energy projects.  Read More:  https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2024/02/07/how-sabah-is-tackling-its-energy-woes/  Laporan Lanjut:  https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2024/02/07/bagaimana-sabah-tangani-isu-bekalan-elektrik/ Free Malaysia Today is an independent, bi-lingual news portal with a focus on Malaysian current affairs.    Subscribe to our channel - http://bit.ly/2Qo08ry   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Check us out at https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com Follow FMT on Facebook: http://bit.ly/2Rn6xEV Follow FMT on Dailymotion: https://bit.ly/2WGITHM Follow FMT on Twitter: http://bit.ly/2OCwH8a  Follow FMT on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2OKJbc6 Follow FMT on TikTok : https://bit.ly/3cpbWKK Follow FMT Telegram - https://bit.ly/2VUfOrv Follow FMT LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/3B1e8lN Follow FMT Lifestyle on Instagram: https://bit.ly/39dBDbe ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Download FMT News App: Google Play – http://bit.ly/2YSuV46 App Store – https://apple.co/2HNH7gZ Huawei AppGallery - https://bit.ly/2D2OpNP  #FMTNews #HajijiNoor #hydropower #Sabah

Transcript

00:00 Power disruptions are a big problem.

00:02 Especially in this day and age.

00:12 In 2022, a major blackout in West Malaysia disrupted services at restaurants,

00:19 factories, hospitals, and airports.

00:22 The power outage made headlines and it's unsurprising

00:25 as blackouts are uncommon in Peninsular Malaysia.

00:28 Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about Sabah.

00:32 For years, people in Sabah have been struggling with power cuts,

00:46 including those living in its capital city, Kota Kinabalu.

00:49 As Sabah's economy expands, the need for electricity is surging

00:55 and is projected to grow by 4.8% over the next decade.

00:59 These electricity supply issues, which have persisted for decades,

01:04 remain one of the biggest challenges for the current state government to overcome.

01:08 But Chief Minister Haji Jinnur is seeking to end the state's electricity woes

01:13 with several initiatives.

01:15 An important part of the new game plan is to move away from non-renewable energy sources,

01:21 such as natural gas, and rely on Sabah's network of rivers.

01:25 Hydropower is the key to Sabah's renewable energy aspirations.

01:30 It's a key to the future of Sabah's energy supply chain.

01:33 Sabah's energy supply chain is a key to the future of the country.

01:37 Sabah's energy supply chain is a key to the future of the country.

01:40 As of 2022, Sabah's hydro capacity stood at just 102 megawatts,

01:50 contributing a mere 4% to Sabah's energy generation mix.

01:54 Sabah's baseload power demand currently stands at 1,080 megawatts,

01:59 but its maximum power demand can hit 1,200 megawatts.

02:04 It's projected that one megawatt can power between 400 to 900 homes.

02:10 To meet this significant demand, accelerating hydropower production is not just an option,

02:16 but a necessity, says Peter Lajuman, chairman of the Renewable Energy Association of Sabah.

02:21 You really need this power to develop industrialization potential that is happening in Sabah.

02:28 Renewable energy like solar, biomass, or wire gas,

02:33 they come in handy. They are like complementing the generation capacity.

02:38 In January, the Sabah State Assembly passed three bills to pave the way for the state government

02:46 to take over the regulation of electricity supply and renewable energy from Putrajaya.

02:51 This will allow the Energy Commission of Sabah to better realize its vision of delivering

02:55 secure, sustainable, affordable, and accessible energy for the state.

03:00 Last year, the 40 megawatts Telcosang 1 and 2 project commenced operations,

03:06 while the One River Power project is expected to be operational this year.

03:10 At the same time, the Rp4 billion Upper Padas Hydroelectric Project

03:16 is currently underway to boost electricity production by 15%.

03:20 Upon completion in 2029, this new powerhouse will boast an impressive capacity of

03:45 187.5 megawatts. It will also expand the transmission system by connecting the

03:52 southern and southeastern regions of Sabah, creating a more robust and reliable energy network.

03:58 There are other benefits to the project. It will help alleviate Sabah's water shortages.

04:05 For the next 80 to 100 years, we can produce 6 billion liters of water per day.

04:15 In Kota Kinabalu, in the next 10 years, we will only need 500 to 600 million liters per day,

04:23 not even 1 billion.

04:25 By focusing on renewable energy sources like hydropower, it appears that Sabah is looking to position itself

04:32 at the forefront of clean energy initiatives.

04:36 Whether the state will achieve its goal of maximizing its hydropower potential by 2040 remains to be seen.

04:43 Divya Raghu, FMT News.

04:46 (dramatic music)

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