KOTA KINABALU, Jun 24, 2014: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman wants Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) to work closely with Petronas in order to address problems leading to the load shedding exercises in several areas in the State.
However, Musa denied Sabah would be hit by blackouts in the next few days. “It is not blackout but load shedding,” he said when asked to comment on an online report that was attributed to an official of SESB.
Musa said he was made to understand that the load shedding was carried due to problems affecting the two power independent power producers (IPPs), Kimanis Power Sdn Bhd and SPR Energy Sdn Bhd.
Nonetheless, he hoped SESB would resolve the problem soon as possible.
SESB, in a statement issued on Sunday said load shedding was being carried out following gas distribution problems to the two IPPs resulting in its power stations having to stop operations until early next week.
As a result, SESB had to carry out load shedding up to three hours by rotation in areas mentioned in the SESB official website.
SESB was also implementing Demand Side Management (DSM) by getting assistance from the large power consumers so that load shedding would only cover small areas in a short duration.
The low power generating margin capacity in the grid system was also aggravated by the fact that several IPPs like Libaran were still not functioning, ARL Tenaga which had only two of its four power generator sets operating while most of the SESB ageing power stations (average 29 years) could no longer generate stable power and in need of repair.
SESB was banking on the new IPPs to stabilise the Sabah Grid System.
Last Thursday, the Kimanis power station experienced gas pressure problems disrupting power supply to about 10,000 consumers.
Meanwhile, Kalabakan MP Datuk Seri Abdul Ghapur Salleh urged electricity users to make claims from SESB for their damaged equipment as a result of rampant blackouts in Tawau.
He said, users have the right to do so and they could make their claims by producing the purchase receipt to SESB.
Ghapur said, the matter was stated by Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili during the Parliamentary session last week.
At the session, Ghapur said, he had spoken about the Sabahans’ complaints about the frequent electricity supply disruptions which were also damaging their equipment.
“We hope that with the explanation from the Minister, people could claim for damages due to the power supply problem,” he said.
Ghapur also urged SESB to solve the issue in a concrete way as it was hassling the people, including those in the cold storage business who experience big losses when blackouts occur.
“SESB must take quick action in solving the power disruption in Sabah in a concrete way for the good of all,” he stressed.
source: Daily Express
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