News & Updates

KUCHING

30 JULY 2021

Sarawak Energy is prioritising reinforcement of its electricity network system for residents at Lundu and Sematan currently being supplied through very long feeder lines that are susceptible to interference and faults.

Recently Lundu and Sematan experienced a spate of supply interruptions due to various external causes ranging from bad weather and landslides to fallen trees damaging electrical poles and lines and excavation by third party contractors.

For a long term solution to address the issue, a total of over RM223 million worth of new facilities and installations is being invested to cater to the reliability efforts for the population of Lundu and Sematan up to Telok Melano and some of these projects have already reached completion.

Sarawak Energy utility arm Syarikat SESCO Berhad’s Chief Executive Officer Lau Kim Swee said, “Efforts are being made to reinforce the supply system for residents at Lundu and Sematan. Currently, they are receiving their electricity supply from the Batu Kitang substation through double circuits 33kV overhead lines that runs a great distance of about 100KM and long lines are susceptible to disturbances. A fault at one point can affect the whole network leading up to Sematan.

“We are currently working to shorten the lines by creating additional circuits following the completion of the Tondong Substation. We would like to assure our customers at Lundu and Sematan that we are prioritising efforts to improve and strengthen reliability of supply for these areas. We understand the inconvenience they face whenever they experience a supply interruptions and our operations team are placed on standby 24-7 for immediate deployment to minimise interruption time,” he said.

Over the next few years, supply to Lundu and Sematan is expected to be strengthened with the construction and installation of;

Project	Timeline/Status
132KV transmission lines (initially energised at 33 kv) from Tondong to Lundu for significant improvement on supply reliability for Bau, Lundu, Sematan and Telok Melano	Planning Stage. Target to complete 2025/2026
Double circuits 33kV cable from Tondong to Bau to improve the voltage distribution to Sematan by shortening the distance to the power source	Ongoing and expected to complete end 2021
Second 33kV source from Lundu to Sematan to improve reliability of supply	To commence 2022
Laying of 33kV cable from the existing overhead line at Siniawan to Bau to enhance the reliability to supply Bau and Lundu	Ongoing
Transformer upgrading at Kpg Sileng to improve supply to Sematan Water Treatment Plant	Ongoing
2.5 MVA Transformer at Kpg Keranji Junction to provides contingency to the existing system at Sematan	Completed
Transformer upgrade for Lundu Hospital to cater to the hospitals current and future supply needs	Completed

On 25 July, supply to Bau, Lundu and Sematan was interrupted due to a fault on one of the electrical towers which affected the Batu Kitang- Bau line. The team had to perform an emergency shutdown at 12.30pm on 26 July to allow repair works on the tower. Works completed and supply normalised at 2.50pm.

A week ago, a landslide near Kampung Haji Baki along Jalan Batu Kitang occurred around midnight damaging electrical cables which affected supply to residents from Batu Kitang all the way to Sematan. Sarawak Energy’s operations team managed to restore supply at around 2am through another circuit.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Energy Vice President for Distribution Yusri Safri said, “ The team continues to monitor the performance of the supply lines and are watchful especially on supply to critical facilities like clinics and water treatment plants.

“We are also mindful of the vaccines storage centre for Lundu and Sematan and our team are in close communication with the State Health Department should they need backup supply. Should an interruption occur, we will do whatever is necessary to restore supply as soon as possible.”

A fault on tower No 3 affected Batu Kitang-Bau line 2 causing supply interruption to customers along the route.

SESCO Chief Executive Officer Lau Kim Swee

Sarawak Energy Vice President for Distribution Yusri Safri