Sabah Electricity hopes vital Southern Link project carried out next year

Construction of 330-km transmission line vital as it will complete state grid

SESB chief executive officer Mohd Yaakob Jaafar (right) visiting the site where Emergency Restoration System towers were set up in Ranau. – Pic courtesy of SESB, March 25, 2024

KUALA LUMPUR – Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) hopes that the Southern Link project that will complete the state grid will be implemented next year.

SESB chief executive officer Mohd Yaakob Jaafar said the project was vital following the emergency incident involving two transmission towers – T194 and T300 – in Ranau, which needed to be repaired immediately due to structural damage. 

He added that the only 275kV transmission line that connected Sabah’s east and west coasts was the Kolopis-Segaliud line.

The Southern Link involves the construction of a 330km-long transmission line starting from Sipitang to Tenom, and then to Kalabakan and Tawau.

If this project is approved for implementation next year, it is expected to be completed in 2030.

It is critical because approximately 200MW of electricity needed in the east coast is generated in the west coast.

SESB chief Yaakob (third right) with staff of the state power utility at the site where the ERS towers were set up in Ranau. – Pic courtesy of SESB, March 25, 2024

Yaakob said SESB was still waiting for the government’s final decision on the Southern Link project.

Serious damage to two transmission towers in Ranau was dealt with immediately by SESB by installing Emergency Restoration System (ERS) diversion towers.

The installation of the ERS that was completed on March 20 was in collaboration with Tenaga Nasional Bhd and the Sabah government. – March 25, 2024