KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is expecting to end "load shedding" of electricity by year end.
Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) chairman Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau said Sabah is the only state that still practices load shedding in the country.
"Our electricity supply is 1,200 Megawatt with only a 12 per cent margin. Eight per cent of the electricity for Sabah is from independent power producers. We (SESB) need to generate at least 70 per cent (700 Megawatt) of our own electricity.
"Leaders have to give focus on the necessary, we want more resources but they are being calculative.
"The load shedding practices have to come to an end, we have to generate enough electricity." he said, adding that Sabah's potential in attracting investments was stunted due to its limited electricity supply.
Based on short-term planning, SESB and Energy Commission will build an energy storage battery with 100 to 200 Megawatt capacity which is expected to be completed within six and eight months. There would also be solar projects to complement it.
Madius, who is also Tuaran member of parliament, was speaking to reporters during SESB Main Distribution Board groundbreaking ceremony at Darau near here.
Meanwhile, SESB chief executive officer Mohd Yaakob Jaafar said the utility company would inform beforehand on possible load shedding schedule following the expected El Nino phenomenon towards the end of the year until early next year.
"The Rugading power station has resumed its operations, thus we have yet to see the necessity to implement load shedding unless there are power stations that are facing damages.
"But, we will inform the consumers should we need to do the rationing."
SESB had implemented load-shedding from April to July due to surge usage of electricity during hot months.
During that period, hospitals and airports were also facing disruption for few hours.
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