NEWS & UPDATES

BINTULU, 12 SEPTEMBER 2019, THURSDAY: The Sarawak Alternative Rural Electrification Scheme or SARES has accelerated electricity coverage in Sarawak lighting up almost 5,000 households in 192 villages in remote Sarawak since its launch in 2016.

SARES, an innovative government-community partnership utilising renewable off-grid solutions to light up Sarawak’s most remote communities is one of several initiatives under the Masterplan, which is driven and funded by the Sarawak Government via the Ministry of Utilities Sarawak and implemented by Sarawak Energy.

Through SARES, it is expected that households in these very remote villages will be provided with either solar or micro-hydro solutions in the next two to five years.

Just recently SARES electrified 125 households from eight longhouses in Tatau here providing villagers with 24-hour electricity.

The eight longhouses are Rumah Robert, Ng Segun (14 households), Rumah Edwin, Ng Belungai (36 households), Rh Degom, Ng Puti (17 households), Rumah Ta’a, Ng Seda (14 households), Rumah Linggie, Ng Sikit (19 households), Rumah Paren, Sg Meruyau (9 households), Rumah Gerunsin, Sg Jambu (6 households), Rumah Ghani, Batu Anap (10 households).

A handover ceremony was held at Rumah Robert Ng Segun, Ulu Kakus, Tatau yesterday to commemorate the completion and commissioning of the solar-powered systems, officiated by Assistant Minister for Rural Electricity Supply Sarawak, Datuk Liwan Lagang.

In the Bintulu division, SARES has already powered up 39 remote villages and longhouses. By 2020, another 102 households from four longhouses will have access to 24-hour reliable and renewable electricity supply through SARES. The four longhouses are Rumah Lawai Ak Chukai, Sg Sujan, Rumah Nompang, Sg Sujan, Rumah Palos, Sebauh, Rumah Elwin Ugan, Sebauh.

In his speech at the event, Liwan said, “The Accelerated Rural Electrification Masterplan aims to expedite full electricity coverage for Sarawak by 2025 through a mix of strategies. This includes expanding the grid by extending transmission and distribution infrastructure as well as lighting up remote communities through off-grid solutions.

“The Ministry of Utilities and Sarawak Energy continues to work closely to expedite efforts going by the allocation of RM2.37 billion which has been approved for 2019-2020 to accelerate rural electrification coverage to 97% by 2020 towards full electrification by 2025,” he said.

Also present were Datuk John Sikie Tayai, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Native Laws and Customs) who is also Kakus Assemblyman and Christopher Wesley Ajan, Sarawak Energy Manager for SARES.

Meanwhile, Lu Yew Hung, Sarawak Energy Group Chief Operating Officer said when commenting on the event,

“SARES involves the community from planning through to implementation and the SARES team continues to provide technical support and trains the beneficiary communities to operate and maintain the system. If any major work is required, the team will be deployed to handle the issue and to ensure reliable supply to the residents.

"These remote communities will eventually be connected to the main grid when road infrastructure is developed or improved but, in the meantime, SARES serves as a reliable system that meets the basic needs of remote rural households in Sarawak.”

Christopher Wesley Ajan, Sarawak Energy Manager for SARES (right) symbolically hands over the solar power system to village headman Robert Nuing of Rumah Robert in the presence of Assistant Minister for Rural Electricity Supply Sarawak, Datuk Liwan Lagang (centre), Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Native Laws and Customs) who is also Kakus Assemblyman Datuk John Sikie Tayai (7th left), community leaders and the eight village headmen with their certificates of ownership.

Assistant Minister for Rural Electricity Supply Sarawak, Datuk Liwan Lagang delivering his speech at the SARES Handover at Rumah Robert, Ng Segun, Ulu Kakus, Tatau.

The solar station for Rumah Robert Ng Segun, Ulu Kakus, Tatau

A now brightly lit Rumah Robert, Ulu Kakus Tatau

Rumah Robert, Ulu Kakus Tatau now has access to 24-hour electricity supply through SARES