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Ministry of Utilities, Sarawak Energy and village communities to work together in community based SARES programme to light up rural Sarawak

MARUDI, 7 SEPTEMBER 2018, FRIDAY: As part of the continuing mission to light up remote communities, Sarawak Energy handed over ownership of the Sarawak Alternative Rural Electrification Scheme (SARES) to a total of 128 households in Rumah Rok, Rumah Lajang and Rumah Asong at a ceremony held in Rumah Rok today.

The Ministry of Utilities, Sarawak Energy and these three remote communities in Baram, chosen due to the challenge of having them connected to the grid, worked together to build alternative energy systems utilising solar power for the respective villages.

Dato Gerawat Gala, Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker who is also Assemblyman for Mulu, officiated at the event on behalf of the Minister for Utilities. Also in attendance were Anyi Ngau, Member of Parliament for Baram, Sherrina Hussaini, Miri Resident; as well as representatives from relevant agencies and community leaders.

Representing Sarawak Energy were Dr Chen Shiun 郑勲 , Vice President for Research and Development, and Peing Tajang, General Manager for Corporate Communication.

In his speech, Gerawat expressed his appreciation to the Ministry of Utilities and Sarawak Energy for their efforts to provide reliable electricity supply to the villagers of Rumah Rok, Rumah Lajang and Rumah Asong despite having to face challenges of working in the state’s interior.

Commenting on the handover ceremony, Dr Chen said, “Due to advancements in alternative energy technology, we are able to support the State Government’s initiative to provide 24-hour electricity supply to villages that are too distant to connect to the main electricity grid.”

SARES is a RM500mil innovative government-community partnership model that aims to electrify 8,700 households from 2016-2020, accelerating full coverage to the remotest communities in the state.

"Under SARES, communities take ownership of the systems and do not have to pay for the electricity that they consume and are no longer wholly dependent on expensive and noisy diesel generators, which can only run for limited hours,” he continued.

The handover ceremony today was part of Phase 2 of SARES in Baram which will electrify 9 villages with renewable 24-hour electricity. SARES Phase 1 in Baram has already seen 15 villages connected.

The state-owned energy developer and power utility aims to connect a total of 82 villages in the Baram area to reliable and renewable 24-hour electricity supply by 2020.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Energy Group Chief Executive Officer, Sharbini Suhaili said, “The SARES system can meet basic household electricity needs with lighting, fans, a television, a freezer and a cooker which were previously powered through diesel powered generator sets."

"In addition, the systems are simple in design without any compromise on safety,” Sharbini explained.

Earlier this week a SARES handover ceremony in Kapit saw the lighting up of 322 households in 18 longhouses – five in Sungai Pila, three in Sungai Gaat in Kapit; and 10 in Sungai Katibas, Song.

A handover ceremony was held in Tatau District Office earlier in August to commemorate the completion of SARES and the lighting up of 204 households in 10 villages in the area.

The rural population electricity coverage today stands at about 91% with the overall state domestic coverage at 95%, compared to 2009 when the overall state domestic coverage was 79% with rural population electricity coverage of only 56%.

Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Dato Gerawat Gala handing over ownership of the Sarawak Alternative Rural Electrification Scheme (SARES) to village representatives of Rumah Rok, Rumah Lajang and Rumah Asong at a ceremony held in Rumah Rok today. Also see is Sarawak Energy Vice President for Research and Development Dr Chen Shiun (second left).

Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Dato Gerawat Gala speaking at the handing over ceremony of ownership for the Sarawak Alternative Rural Electrification Scheme (SARES) to village representatives of Rumah Rok, Rumah Lajang and Rumah Asong at a ceremony held in Rumah Rok today.

The solar system station at Rumah Rok, Sungai Linei Tutoh Baram

The solar system station at Rumah Rok, Sungai Linei Tutoh Baram