Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor chairing the Sabah Energy Council meeting at Menara Kinabalu in Kota Kinabalu.
KOTA KINABALU: A total capacity of 199MW large-scale solar (LSS) projects were approved to 15 bidders by the Sabah Energy Council through a bidding process conducted by the Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS).
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said eight of the projects(113MW) were for the state's west coast areas while the remaining 86MW would be for the east coast of the state.
"With these and existing LSS projects currently operating or being implemented, the
total LSS in Sabah will exceed 350 Megawatts or 23% of generation capacity
mix by 2027," Hajiji said after chairing the council meeting here Thursday (Dec 12).
He said the projects which gave priority to government-linked and local Sabahan companies, were expected to be completed by the end of 2026 and will help reduce dependence on fuel subsidies, especially in the East Coast.
He also noted that the bid prices offered were competitive through encouraging participation and will become a reference for future energy projects to ensure best procurement practices.
The council also endorsed the Sabah Hydro Development Master Plan (SHDM) for implementation over 10 years (2028 to 2037).
"The SHDM study conducted by ECoS identified a potential of 1,500MW of hydropower. With this capacity, in addition to the 500MW already operating or approved, the total hydroelectric power generation will be around 2,000MW.
It will become one of the primary energy sources, reaching more than 38% of the Sabah Grid generation capacity mix.
"This is one of the sustainable long-term solutions to meet our generation's needs," Hajiji said.
Hajiji disclosed that the meeting also focused on addressing current energy challenges in Sabah, including grid capacity shortage and stability while planning to meet the needs of medium- and long-term electricity demand.
"We have approved a review of the Power Development Plan (PDP) to ensure sufficient generation to meet current changes," he said.
Regarding rural electricity supply, Hajiji reiterated the state government's commitment to achieving 100% coverage in rural areas by 2030.
"We are exploring innovative approaches to expand electricity access to rural communities.
"Every Sabahan has the right to stable electricity supply, and we will collaborate with various parties, including NGOs and the private sector, to realise this effort,” he said, adding that the comprehensive initiatives reflected the state government's aim at building strong and sustainable energy infrastructure for Sabah. We are not only addressing current needs but strategically planning for our future generations," he said.
