Sabah launches roadmap to meet state’s power needs

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2040 (SE-RAMP 2040) will address the state’s short-term needs while building future long-term resilience of the energy industry, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor (pic).

Launching the roadmap at Menara Kinabalu here yesterday, Hajiji said the master plan will ensure energy security for the state.

“The state government is committed to ensuring the SE-RAMP 2040 is implemented systematically and effectively,” he added.

It is a 17-year energy roadmap that aims to meet Sabah’s immediate power needs by 2030 as it transitions to become a carbon neutral state.

The master plan outlines the state’s direction and strategic initiatives moving forward, and in anticipation of the state government taking over the regulatory powers for electricity supply and renewable energy from the Federal Government in January next year.

The roadmap also provides for the development of renewable energy to meet the nation’s carbon neutral goals by 2050.

Under the master plan, the Sabah Energy Council will be set up under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister to monitor, support and provide guidance on the implementation of the planned short, medium and long-term initiatives.

Among the objectives of the SE-RAMP 2040 is to ensure a dependable power supply, with equal access and comprehensive coverage at an affordable price.

This is in line with the state government’s aspiration to continue making power accessible to the people while ensuring sustainability for the future of Sabah.

“It is also to complement the National Energy Policy launched last year and the National Energy Transition Roadmap 2050 (NETR) launched in August this year,” Hajiji added

He said the SE-RAMP 2040, formulated by the Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS), covers various strategies and initiatives to balance the energy “trilemma” to ensure energy security, affordability and environmental sustainability.

“We know and realise that the power supply issue in Sabah has been plaguing the people for so long.

“This plan would certainly pave the way for us to ramp up electricity supply for industry needs, and I want ECoS to carry out their mandate to its best level for the benefit of the people and state,” he said.

The Chief Minister said the state government had already secured several high-impact investors, such as the copper coil manufacturer SK Nexilis, solar glass manufacturer Kibing, Linaco coconut integrated processing mill and green steel project Esteel.

ECoS chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid said that SE-RAMP 2040 has adopted 16 strategies to address the energy trilemma.

Among the strategies were ensuring a sufficient generation reserve margin, diversified fuel mix, and new energy sources and technologies for the longer term to achieve energy security.