By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, March 11: A RM16 million 33/11kV substation in Batu Kawa has been completed, with plans underway for two more Extra High Voltage (EHV) substations to support the area’s surging electricity demand.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian emphasised the importance of proactive energy planning as Batu Kawa has been expanding rapidly since 2016, leading to a sharp increase in power consumption.
“Currently, Batu Kawa’s electricity demand stands at 54MW—half of the Batang Ai hydroelectric dam’s output and eight per cent of Kuching’s total consumption.
“This figure is projected to rise to approximately 90MW within the next five years,” he said in a post shared on his social media following a visit to the completed facility on Sunday (March 9).
Dr Sim, who is also Batu Kawa assemblyman, highlighted that the recently completed substation is part of Sarawak Energy’s RM225 million infrastructure upgrade for Batu Kawa, covering the period from 2023 to 2027.
As part of this initiative, he disclosed that two new EHV substations—132/33kV and 33/11kV—will soon be constructed.
“Once completed, an additional 46km of electric cables will be laid, equivalent to two-thirds of the distance from Kuching to Serian,” he added.
Dr Sim commended Sarawak Energy, a wholly Sarawak government-owned entity, for its dedication to enhancing the State’s power infrastructure.
With a valuation of RM7 billion and a workforce of over 6,000, Sarawak Energy currently generates 5,745MW of electricity, 70 per cent of which comes from green renewable sources. Sarawak’s peak electricity demand has reached 4,575MW.
He reaffirmed the Sarawak government’s commitment to positioning Sarawak as a regional renewable energy hub while ensuring Batu Kawa residents and businesses receive a stable and uninterrupted power supply amid the area’s ongoing development. — DayakDaily
