MIRI, April 11: Power supply reliability in Sarawak’s second largest city continues to be disrupted due to a prolonged protest by land claimants at the site of the substation.
According to Sarawak Energy, the protest had brought crucial upgrading and maintenance works of the Miri Town Substation to a standstill.
“The protest has led to unnecessary delays, depriving Mirians of their right to a more modern and reliable power supply system,” said Sarawak Energy in a statement today.
It pointed out that the recent power interruptions that affected Miri Hospital on April 3 and 10 highlighted the need for a reliable power supply system that could cater to the growing demand in the city.
“The new Miri Town 33kV Indoor Substation, initially targeted to be commissioned in August 2018, was planned as the supply source to reinforce reliability to critical areas in the city, such as the hospital and commercial areas through the construction of additional feeders.
“The areas include Jalan Lopeng, Jalan Cahaya and Canada Hill.”
Sarawak Energy said the ongoing protest involves land claimants staking a claim on Canada Hill.
“This has put the city’s central business district as well as its surrounding areas at risk of inadequate power supply as the substation is the main feeder to major areas in the city, affecting homes as well as critical facilities including hospitals, schools and businesses.
“In light of this and in the interest of safety, Sarawak Energy has had to halt construction work for the new indoor substation.”
The substation project is an extension of the existing substation and a vital component of the overall supply network reinforcement works for the people of Miri.
The new extension is part of Sarawak Energy’s RM1 billion investment in the Miri Power Supply Reinforcement Plan to upgrade the supply system to meet rapid expansion and rising electricity demand of the people of Miri.
“Sarawak Energy reiterates that projects to modernise electricity infrastructure must be prioritised in order for rapidly developing cities like Miri to have a system that can provide reliable electricity supply for all its residents,” it emphasised. — DayakDaily
