Kuala lumpur: A total of 200 megawatts (MW) of electricity supply is being channelled from the West Coast to the East Coast of Sabah via the 275kv Kolopis-Segaliud transmission line, which resumed operations yesterday. Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Yaakob Jaafar announced that the transmission line was successfully reconnected at 8.10 pm following the completion of the Emergency Restoration System (ERS) tower installation.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the coordination of the electricity supply extends from Kolopis-Segaliud to Sandakan Island via the Seguntor main entry substation (PMU) at the Sandakan Palm Oil Industry Cluster Port (POIC). From Segaliud, Sandakan, the electricity supply is routed to the Dam Road PMU in Lahad Datu to cater to the needs of Tawau Island.

Mohd Yaakob elaborated that Sabah Electricity is employing two island operations, Sandakan Island and Tawau Island, to manage electricity supply disruptions on the East Coast of Sabah. Tawau Island includes areas such as Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna, and Tawau, while Sandakan Island encompasses Beluran, Kinabatangan, and Sandakan.

The restoration of the electricity supply has also resolved the water supply issue in Sandakan, which had been hampered by the lack of power at the Segaliud Water Plant. Mohd Yaakob added that Sabah Electricity plans to promptly implement the main distribution substation (PPU) supply line in Tawau to tackle electricity challenges in the district.

The restoration process, initially expected to take eight days, was completed in just four days. Mohd Yaakob expressed gratitude to everyone involved, while also mourning the recent passing of a friend and Sabah Electricity employee in the Keningau area.

The major supply disruption on Sabah's east coast occurred last Saturday after two 275kV Kolopis-Segaliud transmission lines were severed when a transmission tower collapsed due to a landslide in Kampung Kolopis, Penampang.