East-West Power Grid Launched

Nov 27, 2007 - New Straits Times

The long-awaited east-west power grid was officially commissioned yesterday after a two-year delay.

Involving the transmission of between 132 kilovolt and 275kv, the project was completed at a cost of RM503 million, with RM350 million provided by the federal government and RM153 million soft loan.

The grid was launched by the Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Ahmadshah Abdullah at the main sub-station in Kolopis here.

Also present were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Tan, Tenaga Nasional Berhad and Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd chairman Tan Sri Leo Moggie and TNB chief executive officer Datuk Seri Che Khalib Mohd Noh.

The transmission line from Kolopis to the Segaliud main substation in Sandakan covers 272km, passing through seven districts.

Moggie said the delay was due to technical problems and the difficulty in obtaining permission for the erection of towers for the cables from affected landowners.

The districts benefiting from the project are Penampang, Tambunan, Ranau, Beluran, Labuk Sugut, Kinabatangan and Sandakan.

"We hope the completion of the grid will greatly ease power disruption in the seven districts," Moggie said.

With the completion of the grid, SESB's focus now is to enhance its power distribution and transmission capacity which is expected to cost about RM600 million.

(c) 2007 New Straits Times. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.