SANDAKAN: The Ministry of Energy, Green Technology and Water is committed to achieving a System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) of 150 minutes per consumer in the state.
Its minister Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili said the Ministry was now cooperating with Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), Sabah Electricity and Energy Commission to achieve 150 minutes per consumer for three years.
“The electricity supply for Sabah is 80 per cent owned by TNB and 20 per cent by State Government while its licence is under my ministry. Therefore, I am the one who will to monitor, thus ensuring a wider and efficient coverage of power supply in this state, especially in reducing power outages.
“As for Sandakan district, the SAIDI has been gradually decreased. For the record in year 2016, the SAIDI was 311 minutes per consumer compared to 379 minutes in 2016.
“So, we are in planning to achieve 150 minutes per consumer in this three years. However, compared with other countries such as the United States or Australia, our SAIDI is still at a moderate level,” he said this to reporters after a walkabout at several markets in this district, yesterday morning.
Maximus, who is also the acting president of Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), was accompanied by Rural Development Minister cum PBS vice president Datuk Radin Malleh and PBS deputy president Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai, Batu Sapi Member of Parliament Datuk Linda Tsen Thau Lin and Karamunting assemblyman Datuk Charles Pang.
Earlier, they visited several markets, namely at Bandar Ramai-Ramai,Bandar Nam Tung, Taman Sibuga and Taman Mawar.
Meanwhile, Maximus also said starting next year, several main substations would be constructed in the State and replacement of aerial bundle cables would also be made in stages.
In another development, Maximus said PBS as of yesterday had been close to people.
“PBS is a multiracial party with 40 per cent non-Muslim Bumiputera, 30 pervcent Muslim Bumiputera and another 30 per cent Chinese.
“Therefore, it is the party’s core struggle to ensure our people are being prioritised, enhancing our state economic growth and upgrading our facilities, thus ensuring the safety of out people,” he added.