News & Updates

KUCHING, FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2020: Sarawak’s rural communities are assured of Sarawak Energy’s commitment to providing reliable power supply during the Movement Control Order (MCO).

Datu Haji Sharbini Suhaili, Sarawak Energy Group Chief Executive Officer said, “While our urban customers are well served as they are grid-connected to our major power plants and can access quick response technical teams, we are also ensuring that we keep the lights on in rural areas of Sarawak where we have a number of thermal and hybrid power plants generating supply.”

Most of Sarawak Energy’s customers are provided with electricity through two parallel transmission grids that are connected to major power plants such as Bakun and Murum.

Rural customers not yet connected to the main grids are served by a mixture of thermal and hybrid power stations. These serve communities located in the highlands of Bario, interior areas along the Rejang River and remote areas beyond Long Lama and Lawas among others.

Sarawak Energy is employing robust measures to ensure supply reliability for Sarawakians residing in these rural areas and the interior during the MCO. A team of 120 has been deployed on rotation basis to oversee the operations of these rural power stations as well as undertake electrical and mechanical maintenance works across Sarawak.

“Our rural operations team and their support functions are working to ensure there are no disruptions in terms of logistics like fuel supply for our thermal plants and also maintenance equipment and material,” Sharbini continued.

The utility has an organised team of personnel who are manning critical functions for both power plants’ operations and providing maintenance services.

Sharbini reiterated that the well being and safety of Sarawak Energy staff remains top priority despite their distant place of work and are being kept updated on the health directives from the authorities.

“The safety and well-being of all our staff is our top priority. Our rural operations team serve in the interior and we are making sure they maintain communication and are kept updated through their line managers and internal advisories regarding the COVID-19 situation in the state and on self-protective measures against the virus,” he said.

Sarawak has achieved 97% electrification through a mixture of strategies and aims to achieve 99% electrification in 2020 towards full electrification by 2025.

Electricity is considered an essential service and as its primary provider in the state, Sarawak Energy’s critical functions teams are continuing to work from their base locations and plants while a majority of office-based staff now operate from home.

Teams continuing to work from base locations include Power Operations, Energy Resources, Grid System Operators, Project Delivery of critical projects, Transmission and Distribution, ICT, Occupational Safety and Security and Building, Facilities and Infrastructure.

“In discharging our responsibilities to keep the lights on for the people of Sarawak, we are continuing to comply with all directives from the National Security Council and State Disaster Management Committee to help the government break the transmission of Covid-19. Stay Home, Stay Connected,” said Sharbini.

Datu Haji Sharbini Suhaili, Sarawak Energy Group CEO : Stay Home, Stay Connected

Stay Home, Keep Safe from Sarawak Energy team