BY LEE SHAW WEI & MA CHEE SENG
KUCHING: The state’s rural electricity supply has achieved 97.1 percent coverage.
Minister of Utilities and Telecommunications Datuk Julaihi Narawi said this is in line with the state government’s commitment to achieve full coverage of 24-hour electricity supply throughout Sarawak by 2025.
“The Sarawak government has allocated a total of RM2.37 billion in 2019 to speed up the rural electrification programme under the People’s Project.
“Since then, a total of 23,319 households have been supplied with 24-hour electricity until the third quarter of 2022,” he said this in his ministerial winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today (Nov 29).
Explaining further, he added that the increase in the number of households that have been supplied with 24-hour electricity supply has become a reason for residents to build new houses.
“In 2019, a total of 7,798 households were recorded, increasing to 14,408 households in 2020 and later on 20,445 households last year.
“However, there are still 11,700 households in rural areas that are still without electricity supply,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Julaihi revealed that grid line connections will also be extended to rural areas with road access.
“While stand-alone systems (off-grid) through hybrids and the Sarawak Alternative Rural Electrification Scheme (SARES) will continue for rural areas that do not have road access.
“The SARES programmes that have been implemented and completed in the rural areas are Long Busang in Ulu Belaga, Rumah Lawai in Sebauh, Long Suling in Miri, Rumah Nading in Kapit, Rumah Lusi in Song and many more,” he added.
Additionally, Julaihi also explained that the sixth phase of SARES under the provisions of the Ministry of Rural Development is currently in the implementation phase involving 141 villages and longhouses and benefitting 2,863 households.
“So far, the implementation of this project is at 85.1 percent and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2023,” he concluded.
