Latest news with #PanglimaWilfredMadiusTangau
Borneo Post
09-06-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Madius calls for stronger ASEAN-China energy ties to boost green future
Madius (centre) speaking on CHINA-ASEAN energy cooperation at the 2025 RCEP Member States Cooperation Dialogue. KOTA KINABALU (June 9): Sabah Electricity chairman Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau called for deeper ASEAN–China energy cooperation to build a green and interconnected energy future. Madius, who is also a former Deputy Chief Minister of Sabah, made the call while attending the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Industry Cooperation Conference in Hefei, Anhui, China on June 3 to 5 Madius was invited as a keynote speaker and forum guest by Sabah China Chamber of Commerce president Datuk Frankie Liew, and Tan Siew Ling, Vice President and Chairperson of the Women Entrepreneurs Committee. When speaking about regional energy cooperation, he noted that ASEAN is currently at a critical juncture in its energy transition, and it is essential to strike a balance between power reliability, affordability and sustainability. He emphasized that China, as a global leader in energy technology and industrial development, can play a positive role in ASEAN's green development through its support in technology, investment and expertise. 'To achieve these goals, regional cooperation is vital. Collaborating with global leaders like China and engaging in exchanges of technology, investment and knowledge will accelerate our development efforts,' said Madius. He specifically highlighted Malaysia's proactive development in solar photovoltaic (PV) energy and its close collaboration with ASEAN countries in renewable energy as a reflection of its commitment to a sustainable and integrated regional energy future. He also stressed that through strategic cooperation, technological innovation, band policy leadership, Malaysia is playing a key role in driving the region's energy transition. 'China's breakthroughs in photovoltaic module manufacturing are poised to play a crucial role in the global renewable energy transformation,' he added. Madius praised the organization of the conference and extended his congratulations on the establishment of the China–ASEAN Photovoltaic Industry Cooperation Committee and the China–ASEAN New Energy Vehicle Industry Cooperation Committee. He expressed hope that these two mechanisms would effectively promote deep cooperation in key green sectors such as photovoltaics and new energy vehicles within the region. During the meeting, Madius introduced Sabah Electricity to delegates from various countries. The company is 83% owned by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), 17% by the Sabah State Government, while Malaysia's Ministry of Finance holds a 1% 'golden share.' He noted that Sabah, located in East Malaysia, faces challenges in power grid infrastructure due to its unique geographical setting, but also holds great potential for driving green energy transformation. 'As the main utility company serving Sabah and the Federal Territory of Labuan, Sabah Electricity currently serves over 700,000 customers. Beyond its power supply mission, it is also committed to promoting energy diversification and improving efficiency to accelerate the shift towards a sustainable energy structure, contributing to Malaysia's national vision of carbon neutrality by 2050.' He concluded by wishing the conference great success and expressed his hopes to work hand in hand with all parties to usher in a new phase of regional energy cooperation.
Daily Express
07-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Banggi Island electricity supply challenge
Published on: Saturday, June 07, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jun 07, 2025 By: Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau Text Size: BANGGI Island, located northeast of Kudat, Sabah, is Malaysia's largest island, spanning 447 square kilometres. It is nearly half the size of the state of Perlis and home to approximately 30,000 residents. Advertisement Despite its strategic location and potential as a hub for rural development, the island is being confronted with a critical basic infrastructural issue affecting progress and in effect every aspect of daily life which is the availability of a stable and sustainable supply of electricity. Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to lead a working visit to Pulau Banggi with a delegation of Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (Sabah Electricity) staff members from Generation, Retail as well as the Northern Zone management. The basic objective of the visit was to assess the real situation of the island's energy infrastructure and assess the scope of the needed upgrades. The observation during the visit will contribute to a report which is being prepared for submission and presentation to the Federal Ministry of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW) in a series of important meetings this coming June. Advertisement Banggi island has been the target of rural electrification initiatives By the federal government through KKDW since 2009. As part of Phase One of the project, KKDW implemented the Rural Electricity Supply Project (BELB) in 2009 which was a hybrid solar PV–diesel power station as an initiative to ensure a reliable electricity supply system to the island's residents, who had long endured unreliable and limited power access. This hybrid system, which combines renewable energy (solar) with conventional sources (diesel), was seen as a more efficient and cost-effective solution compared to relying solely on diesel. It marked a significant milestone in improving the quality of life for residents by providing 24-hour electricity. Later, in July 2011, the Second Phase of the project was implemented and successfully completed in January 2014. The project consisted of the installation of 1,000 kWp of solar panels and five diesel generator units with a combined capacity of 1,450 kW, complementing the existing 200 kWp system from Phase I. In 2015, the project was certified fit for operation and maintenance and subsequently handed over to Sabah Electricity to operate through a memorandum of agreement with KKDW. Under the agreement, all operational costs are paid by Sabah Electricity and later reimbursed by KKDW. And since there are 16 islands under similar operation, Sabah Electricity decided to privatize the operation and maintenance to a third party until today. As with any aging system which has been in operation for more than a decade, various issues have since emerged. Today, peak electricity demand on the island has significantly increased to as high as 932 kW during night-time hours—a significant increase from earlier years. Although the total installed capacity stands at around 2,600 kW (2,000 kW from diesel and 600 kW from solar), the system's actual performance is undermined by ageing equipment, degraded solar panels, failing battery storage systems, and outdated circuitry. For example, two diesel generators which were installed in 2009 are now experiencing frequent break down, largely because their operational lifespan has been exceeded. In its effort to manage rising demand, Sabah Electricity has taken proactive steps by dispatching two additional diesel generator units; one in 2017 and another in 2024. While this has provided temporary relief, it does not address the underlying problems of frequent breakdowns. At this juncture we think that a comprehensive system upgrade is urgently required to ensure long-term reliability. Therefore our visit to Banggi Island was not a mere tour of the facility; rather, it was also a fact-finding mission to determine immediate and long-term needs of the Sabah Electricity power generation Team led by the Chief of Generation Ir. Addie Ahmad. Among those who joined the delegation was YB Dato' Verdon Bahanda, the Member of Parliament for Kudat and his staff members whose insights and contributions were invaluable in contextualising the electricity supply situation. Other than Ir. Addie Ahmad, Sabah Electricity's Chief Generation Officer Ir. Addie Ahmad, I was also accompanied by the Northern Zone Manager Ir. Ts. Winches Maximillian Samuel, Kudat Area Manager Mohd Zulezwan Osman, and the Assistant District Officer (ADO) of Banggi Sub-District Jaslee Jaafar. Also present were local community leaders, who took the opportunity to give feedback and express the concerns and expectations of residents in their respective areas. Sabah Electricity is scheduled to present its initial report to KKDW on 3 June 2025, followed by a high-level meeting chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Rural and Regional Development, YAB Dato' Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, in Putrajaya on 26 June 2025. It is important to note that Pulau Banggi is one of 16 islands under the operational care of Sabah Electricity through the BELB hybrid energy system. Nine of these are located in Semporna, while six are in Sandakan. These are some of the socio-economic responsibilities that Sabah Electricity has to undertake in the form of national service as we do not make any money from this undertaking and yet we incur expenses in the form of overhead to manage, monitor and evaluate the current electricity supply systems. The tariff imposed in these islands is a mere 22 Sen per unit electricity, a far cry from the 34.2 Sen being imposed in the rest of Sabah. Centralised management under Sabah Electricity allows for more coordinated maintenance, better allocation of resources, and a higher standard of safety for equipment, personnel, and the general public. Our experiences in Banggi Island underscores a vital lesson: rural development is not just about building infrastructure, it is about maintaining it, upgrading it, and ensuring it evolves alongside the current needs of the populace. It is time we recognised electricity not merely as a basic utility, but as a powerful driver of rural progress. The people of Banggi Island and the other island communities across Sabah deserve access to reliable, efficient, and sustainable energy, just like their fellow citizens on the mainland. Investing in infrastructure upgrades in places like Banggi Island is not just a response to current demand; it is a forward-looking commitment to empowering communities and securing a brighter future for generations to come.
Daily Express
10-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
How Sabah Electricity is laying foundation for economic resilience
Published on: Saturday, May 10, 2025 Published on: Sat, May 10, 2025 By: Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau Text Size: Sabah's journey towards a strong, diversified economy will not be shaped by policy declarations alone. It demands the steady, difficult work of building reliable infrastructure, attracting sustainable investment, and creating the right conditions for industries to flourish. AS I have mentioned before, Sabah's ongoing journey towards economic transformation from agriculture to industrial based economy hinges upon among others the availability of quality and stable electricity supply. For the record, Sabah Electricity has worked tirelessly over the years to provide a stable supply, and we are continuing to reorient the state's energy infrastructure to support a more industrialised economy, one that can withstand global shocks, create meaningful jobs, and ensure long-term prosperity for its people. However Sabah Electricity is being confronted with multifaceted challenges in its efforts to provide quality and stable power supply. Other than technical challenges, financial challenges are equally crucial in ensuring a sustainable financial position for the utility. Other than tariff issues the quality and sources of revenue is also important. For instance, at the moment 80pc of Sabah Electricity revenue is from residential consumers. As it stands there are stark differences in who Sabah Electricity and Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) serve; 75pc of TNB's revenue is from industry and commercial consumers and only 25pc and it is the opposite for Sabah Electricity. The energy infrastructure in Peninsular Malaysia is of course much bigger than ours, TNB's National Grid, which includes the 132kV, 275kV, and 500kV transmission networks, spans approximately 26,371.48 kilometers as of 2024. The number of customers there has reached 10.41 million, dominated by residential users with 9.14 million accounts, followed by 1.83 million commercial customers. Despite the high number of residential users, the industrial and commercial sector commands a large share of electricity consumption, accounting for nearly 34pc industries and 42pc commercial while residential consumption is only 27.9pc. This reflects a highly industrialised economy where manufacturing hubs, commercial estates, and processing plants drive the nation's economic output. The situation in Sabah presents a different scene. Here, industrial consumers make up only a small portion of overall electricity demand, while residential usage dominates at close to 80pc. This consumption pattern mirrors the structure of Sabah's economy, which remains heavily reliant on services, tourism, small-scale agriculture, and household consumption. Recognising the implications of this imbalance, Sabah Electricity, in collaboration with government agencies and private stakeholders, is committed to shifting the landscape. Building a stronger industrial base is a must in order to diversify Sabah's economy, reducing its dependence on volatile sectors, and creating new streams of income and employment. More critically, a varied industrial sector acts as a shock absorber during global crises. The Covid-19 pandemic and past outbreaks like SARS exposed the vulnerability of economies that rely too heavily on sectors like tourism. While tourism remains an important part of Sabah's identity, it can collapse almost overnight when borders close and travel halts. In contrast, industries producing essential goods, materials, or services tend to be more resilient, maintaining operations even during economic shocks. For this reason, Sabah's push for industrialisation is not merely about economic ambition, rather it is a strategy for building lasting resilience. Electricity forms the heart of industrial activity. It is undeniably the heart of the economy. Without reliable, sufficient, and affordable power, factories cease to operate, machinery grinds to a halt, and investors turn elsewhere. Sabah Electricity understands this responsibility deeply and is recalibrating its strategies to meet the needs of an industrialising Sabah. Increasing generation capacity to match rising demand is a key priority. Sabah's grid, which currently manages a peak load exceeding 1,000 megawatts, is being steadily reinforced through the development of new generation projects. Industrial consumers require more than just access to electricity; they demand a reliable supply and rightly so. Power interruptions and voltage fluctuations can result in massive financial losses for manufacturing operations. Recognising this, Sabah Electricity is modernising its grid infrastructure, upgrading transmission lines and substations to minimise outages and maintain power quality, particularly in key industrial growth areas such as the West Coast, Sandakan, and Tawau. Industrial development for Sabah begin with the establishment of dedicated industrial zones such as the Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC), Lahad Datu, POIC Sandakan, Sabah Oil and Gas Industrial Park (SOGIP) in Sipitang and KKIP in Kota Kinabalu. However, the ever increasing number of investors that signed up particularly in SOGIP have made power generation much more challenging. Sabah Electricity is committed to work closely with the Sabah government to further enhance energy solutions that meet the specific demands of heavy industries, petrochemicals, and advanced manufacturing. These efforts help ensure that Sabah can offer credible, reliable energy services to potential investors, strengthening the state's competitiveness. Bear in mind, Sabah Electricity's role is not just about infrastructure. The company actively participates in strategic planning discussions with state and federal policymakers, ensuring that electricity development aligns with broader industrial growth objectives. Close coordination between energy planning and economic planning avoids pitfalls such as under-capacity, which could stifle growth, or overbuilding, which could place undue financial burdens on consumers. While driving industrial growth, Sabah Electricity remains committed to environmental stewardship. Cleaner generation sources, the gradual adoption of renewables, energy efficiency initiatives, and better emissions management are all integrated into long-term plans. Sabah's journey towards a strong, diversified economy will not be shaped by policy declarations alone. It demands the steady, difficult work of building reliable infrastructure, attracting sustainable investment, and creating the right conditions for industries to flourish. In this state-wide transition, Sabah Electricity sees itself not only as a utility provider, but also as a facilitator of economic success. Its function extends beyond power generation and it is actively establishing the environments for a more self-sufficient and resilient Sabah economy.
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Daily Express
26-04-2025
- Climate
- Daily Express
Why SDG13 matters to Sabah Electricity
Published on: Saturday, April 26, 2025 Published on: Sat, Apr 26, 2025 By: Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau Text Size: The truth is, we need climate action not as a slogan, but as a survival strategy. Climate change isn't a distant idea anymore. It is here, and it's already reshaping how we live and work. When people talk about climate change, they often picture melting ice caps or rising sea levels in faraway places. But for us at Sabah Electricity, the effects of climate change are not distant or theoretical but they are right here, on our land, impacting our grid, damaging our infrastructure, and threatening our ability to serve the people of Sabah. That's why we take Sustainable Development Goal (SDG13) dedicated to Climate Action seriously. Not because it's trendy, or because we have to, but because we've seen what happens when nature strikes and we aren't prepared. The truth is, we need climate action not as a slogan, but as a survival strategy. Over the past year alone, we've experienced first-hand how natural disasters can paralyze the electricity supply in Sabah. Remember the landslide in Kampung Nabutan? That wasn't just a normal landslide as it occurred right near the 275kV transmission towers that are part of the backbone of our grid. These towers connect the west coast and east coast of Sabah, carrying roughly 200 megawatts of electricity every day. If they had fallen, the entire east coast could have plunged into darkness. That's not just a technical issue but also a disruption to homes, schools, clinics, and factories. That's the real-world consequence of not acting fast enough to protect our infrastructure from the shifting earth beneath our feet. The condition of those towers became very critical. There was no village nearby, no people around to help, just deep forest and unstable soil. And yet, 30 of our Sabah Electricity staff, 30 from TNB, and 20 contractors went deep into those high-risk areas to prevent collapse. They knew the stakes. They knew that for every bolt tightened, every reinforcement made, they were protecting the daily lives of thousands across Sabah. And what about the disaster in Tenom? On 31 October 2022, the Tenom Pangi Hydro Power Station, one of Sabah's key sources of renewable energy was hit by a massive landslide and mud flood. Three turbines were damaged. We lost 66 megawatts of generation capacity overnight. That's clean energy gone. That's a dent in our generation portfolio. That's power we could not deliver to the people. And again, nature didn't wait for us to be ready. It came in full force. These are not rare events anymore. They are becoming more frequent, more intense, and costlier. Toppled electric poles, broken distribution lines, flooded substations. Every time something like this happens, it puts our system under stress. And every time our system is under stress, the people of Sabah feel it, whether it's in the form of a blackout, load shedding, or delayed restoration works. This is why SDG13 matters to us, not as a formality, but as a foundation of power stability and asset protection. Here in this company, we see SDG13 as a lifeline. When we talk about 'green initiatives,' we're not just talking about planting trees or cutting carbon, we're talking about investing in infrastructure that survives, about building systems that bend but don't break, and about planning for a future where power is reliable, even in the face of floods, storms, and landslides. These things are not luxuries, they're necessities. That's why for us, SDG13 Climate Action isn't just about protecting the environment. It's about protecting our assets, our power system, and the lives and livelihoods of the people who count on us every day. It's easy to overlook how much the power grid depends on the land around it staying still and predictable. But the earth is moving, the rains are heavier, the storms are stronger. And Sabah's geography, while beautiful, makes us even more vulnerable. That's why SESB isn't sitting on the side-lines. We're reinforcing our towers, upgrading our monitoring systems, and doing everything we can to build resilience into our grid. But beyond the technical work, we also see the need to shift mindsets—ours, our partners', and the public's. Climate change isn't just the responsibility of scientists and NGOs. It's everyone's problem. And in our case, it's directly linked to whether homes have light, hospitals have power, and industries keep moving. If we want to keep the lights on, we have to care about the earth we're standing on. So yes, Sabah Electricity supports SDG13. Fully. Not because someone told us to, but because we've seen what happens when we don't. The path forward means embracing sustainability in real, practical ways, not only for the environment but for the future of electricity in Sabah.
