KUCHING: Damages to electrical facilities caused by construction work along the Pan Borneo Highway Project is increasing the frequency of unplanned power supply disruptions.
Sarawak Energy’s utility arm, Syarikat Sesco Berhad (Sesco) CEO Lau Kim Swee said the corporation was deeply concerned because these disruptions had caused inconvenience to the customers and showed that the element of carelessness was involved.
He added that these outages were unnecessary because SEB had had numerous engagements with the contractors on safe work practices near electrical installations along the project route.
From October 2016 to April 2019, Sarawak Energy recorded 210 unplanned outages related to Pan Borneo Highway Project works. These were in addition to the 488 planned shutdowns for shifting of poles and other related works over the same period.
“We have taken proactive measures by sending our technical teams to deliver safety briefings and to check on our infrastructure, to ensure a safe working environment so nobody will be in harm’s way.
“However, safety related incidents are continuously occuring. In addition, these incidents are leading to an increase in the number of power interruptions,” he said.
According to Lau, carelessness by contractors had resulted in damaged underground cables due to excavation works; broken and slanted poles; broken overhead lines as well as lines struck by machinery. In some cases, injuries had also been recorded.
Over the weekend, customers in Spaoh were subjected to two emergency shutdowns for two consecutive days due to damaged assets and unsafe conditions at Pan Borneo work sites.
At Enteban, an overhead line pole cracked and almost fell to the ground after being knocked by a lorry. At Lubok Antu junction and Pentik, emergency shutdowns were necessary to repair slanted electricity poles due to the same cause, posing a danger to the public, especially road users.
In Roban on May 8, more than 400 customers experienced an eight-hour outage when an underground cable was damaged by highway excavation works near the Roban junction.
The pulling force of the accidentally excavated cable led to equipment leakage and subsequent power failure at Sarawak Energy’s Roban Bazaar 33/11KV substation. Technical teams mobilised from Sri Aman and Sarikei were able to contain the leakage and speed up repair and restoration works.
In Sri Aman Division, 51 cases affecting supply to customers were recorded over the last two and a half years.
Urging third party contractors to work closely with SEB, Lau said that the incidents could be avoided if proper planning, consultation and precautionary actions were taken.
“Safety at construction sites need to be enhanced to lessen the number of these incidents from occurring. Meeting deadlines for project completion should never be at the expense of safety.”
According to Lau, SEB has actively issued warning letters and stop work orders to contractors who breached safety standards when working near live electric cables as a proactive measure to avoid such incidents.
Contractors also need to comply with the Electricity Ordinance, the Electricity Rules 1999 and the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 when carrying out works within the vicinity of high-tension cable or other electrical infrastructure to ensure the safety and health of all persons involved.
The basic electrical safety guideline when working close to electrical installations is to keep at least 15 feet or five metres away from power lines.
The general rule on underground cables is for contractors to check cable routes with SEB to ensure their work site is safe.
“Please do not assume the location or depth of the underground cable. Taking basic precautionary measures will ensure the safety of the contractors and their workers.
“All contractors must comply with the safety requirements. Contractors with Sarawak Energy are at risk of having their contracts terminated if they do not comply with our safety standards. We are serious about safety and want everybody to go home safely,” Lau emphasised.
Contractors can contact SEB’s 24/7 Call Centre at 1300-88-3111 or email customercare@sarawakenergy.com.my for assistance to check on cable routes or to notify on works near electrical infrastructure requiring SEB’s technical advice.
