Kota Kinabalu: Sabah’s power reserve margin, currently at 12.4%, is projected to rise to 20% by July, as stated by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor during a session of the State Legislative Assembly.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Chief Minister Hajiji highlighted the approval of various interim and fast-track mitigation measures by the Sabah Energy Council, which met three times last year. These measures aim to boost the generation reserve margin and address the increasing electricity demand. A significant reduction in power rationing incidents was noted, with only four occurrences in March compared to 13 in the same period last year. This reflects a 69% drop. Similarly, in April, only one incident occurred compared to three last year, marking a 67% decrease. The majority of supply rationing this year resulted from a lack of generation following disruptions in Petronas’ gas supply.

Hajiji also mentioned other challenges impacting electricity supply, such as a sudden loss of generation from the solar power plant in Tadao, Kudat, due to thick cloud conditions, and disruptions at the Main Switching Substation in Segaliud. However, prompt actions by the Grid System operator and Sabah Electricity limited the disruption to just one hour.

In addition to power supply updates, Sabah has gazetted over 2.01 million hectares of forest as Totally Protected Areas (TPAs), covering 27.15% of the state’s total area. Hajiji explained that forest areas eligible for carbon credit purposes depend on market valuation methodology and the value-added elements of the carbon project. Forest-based carbon credit trading must comply with valuation and verification processes recognized by carbon credit market standards.

The motion related to these developments was passed by a majority vote, following which Sabah State Assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Kadzim M Yahya adjourned the sitting.