SANDAKAN: Tanjung Papat Assemblyman Alex Thien said the people are worried that Sabah’s new solar power projects may not be enough to resolve the State’s ongoing electricity shortages.
Power cuts continue to be a major issue on Sabah’s East Coast, where electricity supply often falls short of demand. While supporting cleaner energy initiatives, Thien said the current solar projects are too small to address the State’s serious power supply problems.
“Solar power is a good initiative, but 28MW is far from enough to solve Sabah’s electricity shortage, especially on the East Coast where power cuts are frequent,” he said.
The two new projects — a 13.2MW floating solar farm at Babagon Dam and a 15MW ground-based solar farm in Sandakan — produce a total of 28.2MW of clean energy.
Thien stressed that Sabah needs larger, constant power sources such as hydroelectric dams, which provide 24-hour energy, unlike solar that depends on sunlight.
He also questioned the high cost of the Babagon Dam project, noting that similar solar projects in Malaysia typically cost between RM2.5 million and RM3.5 million per megawatt, while this one reportedly cost over RM4.7 million per megawatt.
Thien called for better planning and transparency, including battery storage systems to store solar power for nighttime use, stronger power connections, and a comprehensive energy strategy for the State.
“Real energy security requires hydro dams, gas power, reliable infrastructure, and battery systems working together. Solar should be part of the solution, but projects must be fairly priced, transparent, and sufficient to meet the needs of areas hardest hit by power shortages,” he said.
