By DayakDaily Team
ULU BARAM, Aug 12: Electricity supply has been restored to Kampung Long Tap, a Kenyah settlement in interior Baram, through a pilot Rural Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) project using Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO₄/LFP) battery technology, nearly two years after the community was left without power following a fire at its solar power house in 2024.
According to Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) News, the new system was installed, tested and commissioned in just five days, with electricity supply to the settlement’s more than 60 households restored on July 10, 2026.
Telang Usan assemblyman Dato Dennis Ngau said the deployment of LFP battery technology was the first of its kind in Telang Usan, providing a new approach to delivering a more stable and sustainable energy supply to remote communities.
He said the project reflected the Sarawak government’s commitment to finding practical and sustainable solutions to ensure rural communities continued to have access to basic amenities despite challenges posed by distance and accessibility.
“Distance should not be an excuse to marginalise rural communities. With innovation and new technologies, we can provide a more stable and sustainable energy supply even to the most remote areas,” he said after joining a delegation of senior Sarawak government officials to inspect the project in Long Tap on Monday (Aug 10).
The project, implemented in collaboration with Planet QEOS, also provides a 10-year energy assurance model aimed at ensuring a more reliable power supply while helping to reduce maintenance and energy costs for residents.
According to Dennis, the LFP battery system could also serve as an alternative to conventional solar systems under the Sarawak Alternative Rural Electrifiction Scheme (SARES), particularly in remote areas where access and maintenance present significant challenges.
“For me, bringing electricity to rural communities is not merely about providing power. It is also about providing security, creating opportunities for children to study, supporting livelihoods and economic activities, and improving the quality of life of the people,” he said.
Long Tap is located about 10 hours from Miri by four-wheel-drive vehicle, underscoring the logistical challenges involved in providing and maintaining energy infrastructure in remote areas.
The restoration of electricity has not only reinstated a vital basic amenity for residents but also supports their daily needs, education and economic activities.
Dennis also expressed his appreciation to the Sarawak Premier and the Sarawak government for their continued commitment to rural development and efforts to ensure remote communities are not left behind in accessing essential amenities.
The restoration was welcomed by Long Tap village head John Laing Kalang and residents of the settlement. — DayakDaily
