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Manggatal warehouse cable fire major blow for SESB
Published on: Sunday, April 07, 2024
By: Datuk Seri Paduka Wilfred Madius Tangau
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The fire at the SESB facility that caused RM40m losses
The warehouse, which served as a vital storage facility for cables slated for distribution across the state, became engulfed in flames, resulting in a substantial loss of assets. Among the casualties were 70 newly arrived drums of cables, alongside the existing inventory destined for various regions.
On the day of the fire, two nearby factories stepped up to assist in quelling the blaze before the arrival of firefighters. Despite their courageous efforts, they encountered significant obstacles due to the fire’s intensity and a lack of available water supply.
This intensified the already daunting challenges faced by the firefighting teams. Adding to the complexity, the day was marked by numerous reports of open fires in other locations, further stretching the resources and manpower needed to combat the flames.
When I arrived at the scene, Agustavia Joe Guasi, the Head of the Lintas Fire and Rescue Station, provided a brief yet insightful report. She indicated that the estimated area spanned approximately 3.7 acres with a significant portion of 3 acres suffering direct damage.
The sight of firefighters scrambling to secure water sources, sparing not even nearby drains, spoke volumes about their dedication and resourcefulness. Despite their noble efforts, the fire continued to rage, presenting an ongoing challenge.
It is thanks to the swift actions of the fire department from Penampang, Lintas and Kota Kinabalu that they managed to prevent the flames from spreading beyond the warehouse perimeter, averting a potentially catastrophic disaster to the surrounding area.
Preliminary assessments indicate that the losses incurred surpass RM 40 million, primarily due to the devastation of over 1000 drums of cables. Regrettably, this hindrance necessitates a prolonged and expensive process of reallocating funds and time to reorder the essential materials. This additional burden further strains SESB’s already limited resources.
Amidst this crisis, it’s disheartening to witness individuals casting negative aspersions without recognizing the collective efforts of all involved, particularly the tireless dedication of firefighters, police, and SESB’s staff in battling the blaze and preventing its escalation.
One can scarcely fathom the challenges faced by these brave individuals, enduring prolonged exposure to intense heat while clad in heavy protective gear, compounded by the sweltering conditions of our current weather.
We must recognise that this colossal loss has not only severely impacted SESB but has also dealt a significant blow to the entire Sabah community.
It’s essential to highlight that the repercussions of this loss transcend financial concerns. They signify a substantial setback in the progress of our region’s power supply infrastructure.
The cables destroyed in the fire encompass eight different types, predominantly coated cables designed to replace older, bare cables which have been in use for many years and are susceptible to power interruptions and outages.
This incident magnifies a longstanding challenge for SESB. As I’ve previously highlighted, there are approximately 5,000km of uncoated cables in use across the state, vulnerable to disruptions from minor incidents such as rodent damage or fallen tree branches.
The necessity of coating these cables to mitigate such outages is clear, but implementation is both time-consuming and costly. As of last year, it was determined that SESB’s current capacity allows for the annual replacement of only 300km of cables with coated ones.
Without implementing a comprehensive cable replacement program, it is projected to take approximately 20 years to address the widespread issue of uncoated cables across the state.
These cables were an investment to safeguard our power infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted electricity supply for our communities.
While the source and cause of the fire remain unclear, SESB is actively undertaking all necessary measures to guarantee uninterrupted power supply, particularly during the festive period of Aidilfitri.
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