Labuan's new power plant project to be presented to cabinet on Jan 24

 

The proposed construction of a new power plant by Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) to address the persistent power supply disruptions in this duty-free island will be discussed during the cabinet meeting on Jan 24.

Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof said the proposed power plant, spearheaded by Petronas, would be a collaborative effort with the Sabah Energy Commission (SEC) and Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB).

The completion target for the project is set for 2027.

"We will present the proposed new power plant project to the cabinet for approval next week, followed by the next step, wherein the technical team will work on finalising the letter of intent," he said.

Fadillah, who is also the energy transition and public utilities minister, added that the technical team would include representatives from Petronas, the Energy Commission of Malaysia, Sabah Energy Commission, SESB and several other relevant Sabah government agencies.

“The aim is to ensure that the finalised project encompasses distribution, generation, and demand considerations.

“According to Labuan MP Suhaili Abd Rahman, Labuan requires at least 150MW, but the current plan is to have a capacity of 130MW,” he told reporters after visiting the Pipe Replacement Project at the Main Distribution of Water of Pulau Enoe in Labuan today.

He said that if the power supply proves to be adequate for Labuan, it could potentially be extended to benefit the whole of Sabah.

Fadillah then emphasised the technical nature of the project, stating that a technical committee must be established to finalise issues related to the proposed project.

“The committee's work is expected to conclude in September,” he said.

Power issue

Earlier, Fadillah was briefed on various issues related to power supply in Labuan and SESB's operations at the power station in Patau-Patau.

He said the proposed new power plant project aligns with the announcement made by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim during his visit to Labuan in December last year.

During a meet-and-greet session at the time, Anwar had said for a long-term solution to the power supply disruptions in Labuan, the federal government proposes that Petronas build a new power station to address the matter on the island.

He said the federal government would instruct Petronas to build a new power plant using a fast-track approach to address power supply disruptions.

- Bernama