NEWS & UPDATE

LAWAS
23 JANUARY 2026

Electricity supply reliability in Northern Sarawak has been strengthened following the completion of key transmission infrastructure that integrates the region into Sarawak’s main grid, reducing reliance on isolated diesel-based systems and supporting more resilient power supply operations.

The strengthened supply arrangement is enabled by the completion of the Lawas 275kV Substation, which forms part of ongoing efforts to reinforce transmission infrastructure in the northern region. Commissioned on 21 November 2025, the substation integrates the Lawas network into the Sarawak Grid and serves as the main interconnection point to the Sabah Grid. Limbang is scheduled to be connected to the Sarawak Grid by July 2026, after which similar reliability improvements are expected.

The substation is supported by the Bunut-Medamit and Medamit-Lawas 275kV transmission lines, as well as the Lawas-Mengalong 275kV transmission line. Collectively, these assets strengthen grid resilience, enable cross-border power transfer and support coordinated grid operations between Sarawak and Sabah.

With the commissioning of the Lawas Substation and associated transmission infrastructure, the Sarawak-Sabah Power Grid Interconnection was successfully energised on 13 December 2025. This marks Sarawak Energy’s second cross-border power link in Borneo, following the Sarawak-West Kalimantan interconnection commissioned in 2016.

With Northern Sarawak now connected to a larger and more interconnected grid, electricity supply in the region can also be supported by Sarawak’s predominantly hydropower-based generation mix. Strengthened transmission infrastructure also improves operational flexibility, allowing faster fault isolation and restoration during system disturbances, while reducing the likelihood and duration of outages.

Complementing the grid integration is the Kota 2 Mini Hydroelectric Plant, a run-of-river facility located along Sungai Kota in Lawas. Commissioned in 2019, the plant was developed to address electricity supply challenges when Lawas operated as an isolated grid, where reliance on diesel-based generation resulted in higher operating costs and limited supply flexibility.

Kota 2 has an installed capacity of 10.5 MW. Together with the existing 4MW Kota 1 Mini Hydro Plant on the same river system, it forms a cascading power source that makes use of water flows at different elevations to generate electricity.

With the integration of Lawas into the Sarawak Grid, which is predominantly hydropower-based, Kota 2 continues to provide renewable electricity that complements grid supply and aligns with Sarawak Energy’s commitment to reliable and sustainable energy.

The reduction of diesel generation through grid integration and renewable supply lowers fossil fuel consumption and carbon emissions over the long term.

Beyond immediate operational benefits, the strengthened transmission infrastructure also lays the foundation for future regional grid connectivity, supporting longer-term power system resilience and regional energy cooperation.

The switchyard of the Lawas Town 275/33kV Substation

Kota 2 Mini Hydro Dam