Load-shedding in Sabah due to temporarily insufficient power supply

KOTA KINABALU: Load-shedding is currently ongoing in Sabah due to an insufficient power supply and critical reserve margins currently in the state.

Sabah Grid System Operator managing director Adrian Mosigil, said that this is due to inspection and repair works on two of the main independent power producers (IPPs),

The managing director for Sabah and Labuan said these works demand the temporary shut-down of these two IPPs, which results in a deficit of 155MW supposed to be supplied to Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB).

“These two IPPs are the Kimanis Power Sdn. Bhd and Ranhill Powertron Sdn. Bhd,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (Jan 17).

Mosigil said for Kimanis Power, the company has to shut down from Jan 6 until Jan 20 to make way for the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) inspection works, causing a 95MW power loss.

He added that Ranhill had high vibration problems on its power generating gears and had to be repaired, with the work starting on Sunday (Jan 14).

Mosigil said the closure of Ranhill caused another loss of 60MW of power, and added that the repair work is expected to go on for about six days.

“As of Jan this year, SESB has a capacity of 1,177.3MW power supplies to be distributed to Sabah and Labuan, whereas the usage demand during peak hours can reach over 1,090MW each day,” Mosigil said.

He added that the temporary shut down of these two main IPPs is causing SESB’s power supply reserves to run at a critical level.

“We hope the other existing IPPs can provide a stable and consistent power supply to the SESB grids because over 80% of SESB supplies are bought from IPPs before distribution to customers,” he said.

“SESB only has about 20% of power generating capacity,” added Mosigil, who said that the ability of each IPP in supplying power to SESB affects the reserves in SESB, which has fallen below the 12% margin, resulting in load shedding.

The Grid System Operator (GSO) is a department under SESB that is tasked to handle the Sabah grid system safely, economically and efficiently.