KUCHING: Sarawak needs more funds for it to achieve full electrification by 2025. Utilities Minister Datuk Seri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said the state government’s allocation of RM2.37 billion could only increase the coverage from 92 percent currently to 97 percent.
“Sarawak currently has achieved 24-hour electricity coverage at 92 percent. This means that eight percent or 26,400 rural households have yet to receive 24-hour electricity,” he remarked.
He was speaking at a press conference following a ground-breaking ceremony of the Rural Electricity Supply Programme (BELB) project for Kampung Sungai Bedaun, Kampung Sungai Batu, Kampung Sungai Lumut and Kampung Buntal here, yesterday.
Dr Rundi said that his ministry would continue to work together with Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) to implement rural electricity supply connectivity in order to achieve the set target.
“The strategy is via connections of rural electric supply and RPSS Grid Delivery connections for areas with road access.
“A standalone system which uses alternative energy sources such as hybrids and Sarawak Alternative Rural Electrification Scheme (Sares) is for connectivity in remote areas,” he added.
According to Dr Rundi, his ministry also introduced the Additional or Late Applicant Fund (Alaf) for the connection of electricity to new houses for late or additional applicants after the BELB project ended.
“Since its implementation in the middle of last year, a total of 1,200 households have been installed with service lines and over 700 households connected to 24-hour electricity throughout Sarawak,” he elaborated.
He said that only houses suitable for living and with rooms, kitchens and toilets would be supplied electricity via Alaf.
Also present were Utilities Assistant Ministers Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi (Water Supply) and Datuk Liwan Lagang (Rural Electricity).
