Sabah’s Chief Minister Hajiji Noor introduced that a special state meeting sitting is set to take place on January three next yr, paving the way in which for Sabah to imagine regulatory control of its electrical energy supply. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has given the green light for the switch of regulatory power, which is anticipated to happen on January 1, 2024. To meet Under the table , Hajiji emphasised the need for coordination and cooperation from all parties to resolve any legal points.
Among the required steps for the switch of regulatory energy is the approval from the Federal Cabinet to invoke and gazette Article 95C of the Federal Constitution. This would suspend the Electricity Supply Act 1990 (Act 448), Renewable Energy Act 2011 (Act 725), and Sustainable Energy Development Authority Act 2011 (Act 726) in Sabah. Following this, consent from His Majesty Yang di-Pertuan Agong is required, along with a Lay Order in Parliament that can be tabled after the suspension.
Hajiji’s statement got here after a steering committee assembly on the handing over of electrical energy supply regulatory energy to Sabah, which he co-chaired with Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad. The Sabah government will table two bills on the Electricity Supply Enactment and Renewable Energy Enactment, as properly as an modification to the Sabah Energy Commission Enactment 2023, in the course of the special State Assembly sitting.
“We want concurrence from ministries and relevant agencies both at the federal and state stage so that all these processes could be carried out easily, especially when it comes to legality and to keep away from interruption to the electrical supply operations in Sabah,” Hajiji acknowledged.
In anticipation of the switch of regulatory management, the federal authorities has been urged to facilitate and proceed processes to make sure the on-time completion of tasks deliberate beneath the Sabah Generation Development Plan. This consists of fast-track measures to extend energy on the East Coast, aimed at restoring Sabah’s electricity reserve margin to no much less than 30% by September this year.
“This will present an immediate solution to the acute capability shortage in Sabah, thus demonstrating the state and federal government’s dedication to resolving the difficulty comprehensively and effectively,” Hajiji said.
The assembly also decided to add generation capability on the west coast utilizing present natural gasoline supply and different further technology initiatives throughout Sabah. The state authorities plans to extend Large-Scale Solar power manufacturing to 100MW in 2026 on the east coast, recognising the importance of renewable power in supporting the nationwide impartial carbon initiative and the excessive potential of photo voltaic vitality in Sabah.
Hajiji additionally highlighted the Sabah government’s stance on the Southern Link 275kV Transmission Line venture from Sipitang to Tawau. The challenge is crucial for reinforcing grid resilience and completing the 275kV loop system, enabling higher electricity capacity distribution to major industrial users. The Chief Minister careworn that the federal authorities must allocate funding by way of grant for the challenge, as it is a public amenity that must be accomplished by 2028 to enable energy from two new hydroelectric stations to be channelled to customers via the state grid..