96% of Sarawak to get electricity by year-end

Remote areas will get power supply through hybrid solar and micro hydro systems.

SERIAN: About 96% of Sarawak will enjoy electricity supply by year-end.

This constitutes an increase of 2% from last year, says Rural and Regional Development Deputy Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi.

He said under the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP) (2010-2015), RM2.39 billion was allocated under the Sarawak Rural Electrification Scheme (RES) for 63,003 homes in rural areas to receive round-the-clock electricity.

Under the 11MP (2016-2020), the total allocation for Sarawak RES is RM1.3 billion, with an estimated 16,942 homes to receive electricity.

Alexander said this after officiating RES projects for Kampung Bugu Mawang, Kampung Bugu, Kampung Prangkan Merung and Kampung Prangkan Mawang in Serian near here yesterday.

He said the ministry would also continue to cooperate with the state public utilities ministry and state rural development ministry to ensure the goal of providing round-the-clock electricity supply to rural areas within the set time-frame.

Alexander said the RES programme would be implemented via two methods, namely through grid extensions not exceeding 33 kilowatts, and secondly, through alternative means for remote areas, such as hybrid solar and micro hydro systems.

“The ministry, in 2012, had approved the implementation of RES projects via grid connection in Kampung Bugu Mawang, Kampung Bugu, Kampung Prangkan Merung, and Kampung Prangkan Mawang, totalling RM4.4 million.

“The project involves 247 houses in four villages with a total population of 1,235 people.

“Work on the project, carried out by Syarikat Shorefield Sdn Bhd, began in June 2012, and it was completed in July the following year,” he said.

– BERNAMA