KUALA LUMPUR – Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) hopes that the Southern Link project that will complete the state grid will be implemented next year.
SESB chief executive officer Mohd Yaakob Jaafar said the project was vital following the emergency incident involving two transmission towers – T194 and T300 – in Ranau, which needed to be repaired immediately due to structural damage.
He added that the only 275kV transmission line that connected Sabah’s east and west coasts was the Kolopis-Segaliud line.
The Southern Link involves the construction of a 330km-long transmission line starting from Sipitang to Tenom, and then to Kalabakan and Tawau.
If this project is approved for implementation next year, it is expected to be completed in 2030.
It is critical because approximately 200MW of electricity needed in the east coast is generated in the west coast.
Yaakob said SESB was still waiting for the government’s final decision on the Southern Link project.
Serious damage to two transmission towers in Ranau was dealt with immediately by SESB by installing Emergency Restoration System (ERS) diversion towers.
The installation of the ERS that was completed on March 20 was in collaboration with Tenaga Nasional Bhd and the Sabah government. – March 25, 2024