The problem of Sabah's electricity supply shortage will be overcome when the Powertron 2 electricity generation project becomes operational from January next year, the president and chief executive officer of Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), Che Khalib Mohamad Noh said today.

He said the project, due for completion in June last year, was delayed by more than 12 months due to a court injunction by a land owner.

"If the project had been completed in June as scheduled, I feel the problem of the power supply shortage in Sabah would have been overcome. But the project was delayed.

"It will now, only be ready in January next year, with an operational capacity of 65 megawatts and be fully completed by October," he said during the Program Dialog over TV1 last night.

The Powertron 2 project undertaken by Ranhill at Kota Kinabalu can generate 190 megawatts of electricity.

Che Khalib made the remarks while explaining TNB's action to overcome the electricity supply shortage in Sabah.

Taskforce to be formed

He also said the government viewed the problem seriously and had decided that a taskforce be formed to overcome the electricity supply shortage.

"We had indicated to the government that a taskforce was needed to overcome the problem as soon as possible. We therefore feel that the taskforce, which will meet in three months’ time, will be able to help resolve the problem," he added.

The taskforce will comprise TNB, the Sabah Electric Sdn Bhd (SESB) as well as ministries such as the Ministry of Energy, Green technology and Water, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Rural regional development.

He said for the moment, the government will constantly review developments in Sabah and discuss it at the Cabinet meetings every month.

For the short term, TNB has ordered 60 units of mobile generators which can generate one megawatt of electricity. Twenty sets will be placed on Sabah's west coast.

"A total of 40 units will be located to Sabah's east coast, with 20 each in Tawau and Sandakan," he said.

- Bernama