Sarawak Energy commissions new 33kV Petanak substation to cater for growing load demand

KUCHING, April 8, 2016 -  Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB recently commissioned a new 33kV substation located at Petanak area to cater for the increasing load demand from the commercial and residential customers within the Kuching city centre, especially from the golden triangle area. 

The Petanak substation will ease the loads from existing Mosque 33/11kV substation and Taman Sri Sarawak 33/11kV substation.

Front view of the newly Petanak Substation - Picture courtesy of Sarawak Energy

SEB invested  of RM11.5 million on the Petanak substation, which started its operation on March 10.

SEB executive vice president Lu Yew Hung said today building more substations and lines is part of SEB’s on-going efforts towards improving the reliability of power supply.

“We spend approximately RM300 million every year to reinforce and strengthen the distribution system," he said.

"About RM250 million of this will be invested on new distribution substations and lines,  upgrade heavily loaded transformers and overhead lines," he said, adding that another RM50 million is being allocated per year for basic substation and overhead lines maintenance, including vegetation clearing.

Lu, who is also Syarikat Sescon Berhad (SESCo) chief executive officer, said SEB strives to continuously improve its distribution system to give Sarawakians the modern, efficient and reliable power system they deserve.

Among the major upgrading works and facilities in the pipeline for Kuching are  the new Tabuan Tranquility 33/11kV substation, the new Stakan 33/11kV substation and the new Airport no.2 33/11kV substation.

Other than the initiatives taken to improve the state’s power distribution system, SEB had, in 2013, embarked on a massive state infrastructure upgrading project, the 500kV Backbone Transmission Grid.

When completed, the new grid will provide a second transmission backbone to transmit electricity from the major generation power plants concentrated in the north of the state to customers in Sarawak, particularly in the more densely populated southern region, like Kuching city.