MIRI: Work on the RM120 million Lambir sub-station will start on March 15 and is expected to be completed by end-2017, said Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) Group Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Torstein Dale Sjotveit.
The 275/33kV sub-station project will help improve the electricity supply to Miri with a population of more than 350,000.
"Currently, the primary source of power supply for Miri is our 104 MW Pujut power station with a secondary source from the state grid via the transmission line from Similajau to Tudan," Sjotveit said at the earth breaking for the sub-station here today.
He repeated SEB's commitment to spend RM400 million to upgrade the infrastructure and distribution system for Miri.
"SEB will invest a further RM200 million for the transmission system over the next few years for northern Sarawak and is now in the midst of upgrading the state grid.
"The present 275 kV transmission system is almost 30 years old and no longer sufficient to supply SEB's 600,000 customers across the state," he added.
According to Sjotveit, SEB is in the process of building a second transmission line from Similajau to Lambir.
"Due for completion 2019 and besides enhancing the grid supply to Miri, this transmission line will also serve as the grid extension point to Limbang and Lawas via the proposed Bunut to Limbang and Lawas transmission line," he said.
He said once completed, Limbang and Lawas can expect to be connected to the state grid by 2020.
State Public Utilities Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan performed the earth breaking ceremony for the Lambir sub-station.
He said the upgrading of network infrastructure meant the power outage problems that always occurred in Miri would be minimised. --Bernama