KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Energy Council (MTS) today approved theawardof large-scale solar projects to 15 bidders with a total capacity of 199MWunder theLSSSabah 2024 bidding process conducted by the Energy Commission of Sabah(ECoS). Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said eight of theprojects(113MW) are on the West Coast, while the remaining seven to produce 86MWwouldbe on the East Coast. "With these and existing LSS projects currently operating or being implemented, thetotal LSS in Sabah will exceed 350 Megawatts or 23 per cent of generationcapacitymix by 2027," said the Chief Minister when chairing the MTS meeting at MenaraKinabalu. He said these projects, prioritising government-linked and local Sabahan companies, are expected to be completed by the end of 2026 and will help reduce dependenceonfuel subsidies, especially on the East Coast. He also noted that the bid prices offered were competitive through encouragingparticipation and will become a reference for future energy projects to ensurebest procurement practices. The MTS also endorsed the Sabah Hydro Development Master Plan (SHDM) forimplementation over 10 years (2028 to 2037). "The SHDM study conducted by ECoS identified a potential of 1,500MWof hydropower. With this capacity, in addition to the 500MWalready operatingorapproved, the total hydroelectric power generation, totalling about 2,000MW, will become one of the primary energy sources, reaching more than 38 per cent of theSabah Grid generation capacity mix. "This is one of the sustainable long-term solutions to meet our generation needs," saidthe Chief Minister. Hajiji said the meeting also focused on addressing current energy challenges inSabah, including grid capacity shortage and stability while planning to meet theneedsof medium- and long-term electricity demand.
"We have approved a review of the Power Development Plan (PDP) toensuresufficient generation to meet current changes," he said. Regarding rural electricity supply, Hajiji reiterated the State Government's commitment to achieving 100 per cent coverage in rural areas by 2030. "We are exploring innovative approaches to expand electricity access torural communities. Every Sabah citizen has the right to a stable electricity supply, andwewill collaborate with various parties, including NGOs and the private sector, torealisethis effort. "These comprehensive initiatives demonstrate the state government's dedicationtobuilding strong and sustainable energy infrastructure for Sabah. We arenot onlyaddressing current needs but strategically planning for our future generations," hesaid. Present at the meeting were Industrial Development and EntrepreneurshipMinisterDatuk Phoong Jin Zhe, State Secretary Datuk Seri Panglima Sr Safar UntongandECoS chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid.