KUCHING: Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) hopes to supply power to Brunei and Sabah under the Borneo Grid by 2022.
This cross-border interconnection may well be a precursor to SEB’s Asean Grid plan.
SEB group chief executive officer Datuk Sharbini Suhaili said the connecting grid to Brunei is expected to be done earlier due to its distance to Miri.
He said Miri is already connected to the state grid, hence expeditious export of power to Brunei can be realised.
According to him, the export could be done any time when the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is inked for the supply of 30MW of power.
He said SEB is positive about a coming discussion with Brunei’s Energy Minister on the matter.
As for exporting electricity to Sabah, Sharbini said this can only be realised once SEB’s Northern Agenda, which is to connect the state grid to the northern region of Limbang and Lawas, is completed.
“Basically, to connect our state grid to the northern regions of Limbang and Lawas, the project has commenced.
“We have to complete the whole stretch by end of 2022, to displace the diesel power plant there.
“Besides, the Northern Agenda also includes strengthening power supply in Miri, to improve reliability.
“We can only export (power to Sabah) when the Northern Agenda is completed by end of 2022,” he said to reporters during SEB’s Media Business Update 2019 themed ‘Work Towards a Sustainable Future’ at its headquarters at the Kuching Isthmus yesterday,
He also hoped that once the Northern Agenda is finalised there would be interconnection from Lawas to Sipitang, Sabah involving initial export of 50MW, with upgradable capacity of up to 300MW.
Sharbini added the final draft for the PPA had been submitted, pending approval from the Sabah cabinet.
According to Sharbini, the first part of the Borneo Grid was interconnection to West Kalimantan in Jan 2016 via transmission line from Mambong to Benkayang, involving 230MW 275kV of power.
He said this interconnection allows for future upgrade to 500MW.
“We are also looking at opportunities for power generation projects in West Kalimantan,” he added.
At the domestic front, Sharbini said SEB is also implementing grid and off-grid projects throughout the state in a bid to achieve full electrification by 2025.
He said that by next year Sarawak is expected to have 99 per cent statewide electricity coverage including 97 per cent (800 villages) of its rural areas enjoying 24-hour electricity.
He said Sarawak Alternative Rural Electrification Scheme (Sares) will supply the remaining 200 villages.
