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Daily Express
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Keniogan folks hopeful of 24-hour power supply
Published on: Tuesday, June 17, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jun 17, 2025 By: Abbey Junior Text Size: Sabah Electricity personnel inspecting the upgraded generator facility at the Pulau Keniogan power station, which now supplies electricity to the island for up to 18 hours daily as part of efforts to achieve 24-hour coverage. BELURAN: Villagers on Pulau Keniogan are one step closer to enjoying 24-hour electricity, as Sabah Electricity ramps up efforts to improve power supply on the remote island. The community, made up of some 200 households, currently receives electricity for 18 hours a day — an upgrade from the previous 12-hour schedule — following the installation of a new, more efficient diesel generator. Advertisement Sabah Electricity Chief Operating Officer Ir. Ts. Mohd Yusmanizam Mohd Yusof said the move was part of the utility's commitment to ensure equitable access to electricity for all, including rural and island communities. 'We've sent a new, more efficient generator to Pulau Keniogan to ensure a more dependable power supply,' he said. 'We are working towards 24-hour electricity. Our goal is to make sure that every Sabahan gets the best service and electricity supply possible.' Pulau Keniogan, located off the coast of Sandakan and accessible only by boat, is home to a Bajau-majority fishing community that has long depended on candlelight, kerosene lamps and small private generators to get through the night. Local development officer (UPPM) Lokman Madlis said the longer electricity hours had already improved daily life for many residents. 'Alhamdulillah, it now feels like we're not so isolated anymore,' he said. 'People here have freezers, some even have air-conditioning and Astro. With longer electricity hours, we can store our catch properly and send it to the mainland for sale the next day. This really helps our income, especially for those who depend entirely on fishing.' Community representative Kamarzaman Marof echoed similar sentiments, saying full-day electricity is not just a convenience but a necessity. 'We really need 24-hour supply because ice is crucial for the fishermen,' he said. 'Without it, it's hard to keep our catch fresh. Some of us go out to sea in the morning and only return late in the day. If the ice melts or there's not enough, the fish will spoil and we lose money.' He pointed out that many elderly villagers rely on fans or cooling appliances due to the heat, adding that 24-hour power would improve their comfort and health. Sabah Electricity is currently working with the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKDW) to complete a solar hybrid project on the island. Once completed, it is expected to provide long-term, clean and reliable energy to the village. * 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. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
7 days ago
- General
- The Star
A remote island's push for stable electricity
Powering up: Pulau Keniogan, a remote island off the east coast of Sabah where residents are hoping for 24-hour electricity to support daily life and livelihoods. KOTA KINABALU: On Pulau Keniogan – a small island off the east coast of Sabah that is about an hour's boat ride from Beluran and two hours from Sandakan – the sound of generators has long been a part of the rhythm of daily life. For years, the island's 1,200 residents made do with only 12 hours of electricity a day. Now, that has been extended to 18 hours – and Sabah Electricity is pushing ahead to achieve round-the-clock supply. A newly installed, more efficient generator has replaced ageing diesel-powered units, allowing more stable supply for about 200 households. Sabah Electricity chief operating officer Mohd Yusmanizam Mohd Yusof said the upgrade reflects the utility's commitment to ensure that rural and island communities are not left behind. 'We believe everyone in Sabah deserves access to the best utility services, regardless of where they live,' he said. 'At Pulau Keniogan, we've installed a new, more efficient generator to provide more reliable electricity and we are moving towards a full 24-hour supply.' The island's remoteness has long made development difficult. With no road access, everything from fuel to basic supplies must be brought in by boat. This is costly, time-consuming and weather-dependent. Despite these limitations, Pulau Keniogan is a thriving community with a primary school, several kindergartens and a community clinic serving local healthcare needs. Reliable electricity, residents say, is essential to keeping these basic facilities running smoothly. Before the extension, electricity was only available from 6pm to 6am, forcing villagers to schedule their lives around the generator's limited hours. There was no power during the day – even as the tropical heat soared. Lokman Madlis, who serves as the community development leader for the island, said the improvement has already made a visible difference. 'We're thankful the hours have increased, but we're really hoping for 24 hours soon,' he said. 'People in the city take it for granted – things like running a fridge, using a fan, watching TV. We want to enjoy the same comfort.' Beluran is among the country's poorest districts. It is ranked as one of the eight poorest in Sabah and among the 10 poorest in Malaysia, according to the 13th Malaysia Plan. Meanwhile, village community leader Kamarzaman Marof said consistent electricity is crucial for the island's economy, especially fishermen who rely on freezers to preserve their catch. 'Our livelihoods depend on it. Without enough electricity, we can't keep fish and prawns fresh and that affects our income,' he said. Many families go out to sea before dawn and return in the afternoon, only to scramble for limited freezer space before the power shuts off. 'Sometimes we have to throw away what we can't keep cold. It's heartbreaking when your hard work just goes to waste,' he added. A solar hybrid project, once launched as a long-term solution, had stalled midway. While villagers were initially hopeful when works began several years ago, the site has since been left idle. Still, they have not given up. Some locals said they have heard plans to revive the project under a new contractor, and they're hoping the government will keep that promise. 'To us, electricity isn't a luxury – it's something that gives dignity,' Lokman said.
The Star
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Star
Sabah cuts power outage duration by half, eyes sub-100 minute annual target by 2030
Chief Operating Officer Ir. Ts. Mohd Yusmanizam Mohd Yusof (pointing) inspecting one of the Distribution Automation system panels installed in Kundasang, Ranau. KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's average electricity interruption duration has more than halved over the past decade, and Sabah Electricity is now aiming to reduce it even further — to under 100 minutes annually by 2030. This goal is part of Sabah Electricity's strategic plan to enhance power reliability through the expansion of Distribution Automation systems, which have been progressively installed statewide since 2018. Chief Operating Officer Mohd Yusmanizam Mohd Yusof said the state's System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) was around 500 minutes in 2014, but had dropped to 207 minutes by 2024. 'With continued investments in automation, grid upgrades, and cable insulation, we're confident we can bring SAIDI to below 100 minutes by 2030,' he said when met during a visit to one of the Distribution Automation system sites in Kundasang. The system allows Sabah Electricity's control centre in Kota Kinabalu to remotely detect faults, isolate damaged segments, and restore supply to unaffected areas — without having to dispatch technicians to the scene. Without the system, teams would need to travel physically to the site, often delayed by traffic or weather, resulting in longer power restoration times. In the Ranau district — an interior highland area located about 110km east of Kota Kinabalu — the system has been operational since last year. The SAIDI there dropped from 230 minutes in the January-April period of 2024 to just 165 minutes this year, marking a nearly 30% reduction. Kundasang, previously one of the worst-hit areas with up to 800 minutes of disruptions annually per customer, has also seen significant improvement. So far, Sabah Electricity has installed Distribution Automation systems at 681 locations across Sabah and Labuan, including rural and interior areas such as Beluran, Tulupit and Kundasang. It aims to increase this to 1,250 locations by 2030. Yusmanizam said the utility provider's long-term transformation strategy includes replacing bare overhead lines with insulated cables, alongside adopting new digital infrastructure. 'With these combined efforts, we hope to match the reliability levels of Peninsular Malaysia, where the SAIDI currently stands at about 50 minutes,' he added.
