RM260 million boost for power supply in Sabah, Labuan
Published on: Tue, Jul 15, 2025
By: Jonathan Nicholas Text Size: Kota Kinabalu: More than 60,000 consumers in Sabah and Labuan will benefit from improved electricity supply with the implementation of seven energy projects valued at RM260.7 million. The projects, aimed at upgrading substations, extending the grid and enhancing monitoring systems, spanned key areas, including Tanjung Aru, Ranau, Batu Sapi and Labuan.
Advertisement Deputy Prime Minister cum Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof officially handed over the projects during his visit to the Kota Kinabalu Main Intake Substation (PMU KKBU), Monday. The substation is one of the critical initiatives under the Special Sabah Electricity Supply Task Force (PPKBES). 'These projects reflect our commitment to ensuring a reliable, modern and sustainable power supply system for the people of Sabah and Labuan. 'It also strengthens the national grid and supports Malaysia's energy transition efforts under the Malaysia Madani vision. 'The PMU KKBU upgrade involved replacing an outdated 66/11kV system with a new 132/33/11kV gas-insulated switchgear system. The facility now benefits around 11,452 users in Kota Kinabalu and improves power reliability to key areas, including the international airport,' he said. Fadillah said a RM34.92 million project linking Beaufort to the Sabah-Sarawak border will enable the import of up to 30MW of electricity from Sarawak to Sipitang once Sarawak Energy completes its section by September. 'This transmission line is designed to handle up to 500MW, supporting the Asean Power Grid for sustainable, cross-border energy sharing. 'In Ranau, a RM31.3 million substation has reduced dependence on diesel power, benefiting 15,620 users,' he added. Batu Sapi saw the opening of a RM30 million substation in December 2024, improving supply to 4,744 users in Sandakan and surrounding areas. Another RM50 million project at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) increased load capacity from 93.5MW to 131.6MW, reducing power disruptions and supporting nearby growth, including the new UMS Hospital. A RM42 million protection monitoring system completed in February 2024, featuring 15km of undersea fibre optic cable between Menumbok and Labuan, improved safety and reliability. A further RM6.3 million upgrade in Labuan enhanced the capacity to support new developments. 'These projects are a step forward in addressing long-standing infrastructure gaps in Sabah and Labuan, and will improve service quality and resilience across the board,' said Fadillah. His delegation will next visit the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), where Malaysia Airports is implementing a solar rooftop project under the Self-Consumption (SelCo) scheme. Approved in 2022, the 4MW-capacity project allows solar panels to be installed on the airport's rooftops for internal energy use, supporting the Government's push toward greener and more sustainable energy solutions. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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