Sabah energy transformation 2040: Securing clean, reliable power for SMJ 2.0 and beyond

By Ir. Ts. Tan KJ, FIEM, JP on February 8, 2026,

At its core, energy planning is not about megawatts and cables, but about people and possibilities.

ELECTRICITY is often called the lifeblood of modern civilisation. Although it is invisible, its presence is felt everywhere and from the lights in our homes and classrooms, to the machines in hospitals and factories, to the pumps that deliver clean water to our communities. In Sabah, where people live across bustling cities, coastal settlements, islands, and interior highlands, the importance of electricity is even more profound. A reliable power supply is not merely a technical matter; it is a foundation for economic progress, social wellbeing, and sustainable development.

It is in this spirit that the Sabah Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2040 (SE-RAMP 2040) should be understood. More than a policy document, SE-RAMP 2040 is a strategic framework that provides Sabah with a clear direction for strengthening energy security, improving system reliability, expanding renewable energy adoption, and ensuring that electricity access is inclusive and especially for rural and remote areas. It reflects Sabah’s determination to plan ahead, build resilience, and modernise the energy sector in line with future needs.

At the same time, Sabah continues to move forward under the State Government’s broader development framework, Sabah Maju Jaya 2.0 (SMJ 2.0). SMJ 2.0 focuses on strengthening the economy, enhancing the people’s wellbeing, upgrading infrastructure, and safeguarding environmental sustainability. When viewed together, the relationship between SMJ 2.0 and SE-RAMP 2040 becomes clear: if SMJ 2.0 is Sabah’s development blueprint, then SE-RAMP 2040 is one of the most important enablers that will power the blueprint into reality. Development aspirations cannot be achieved without stable, sufficient, and affordable electricity.

Why Sabah needs a long-term energy strategy

Sabah is unique in both geography and settlement patterns. The state is home to major urban centres such as Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau, but it also includes countless rural villages, interior communities, and island settlements. Delivering electricity to such a wide and diverse landscape is a complex task. It requires not only power generation, but also strong transmission networks, resilient distribution systems, and long-term maintenance of assets.

Like many regions experiencing growth and transformation, Sabah’s energy system must continually evolve to meet rising demand, technological change, and higher expectations for reliability. A stable electricity supply supports households, businesses, and public services. Industries depend on it for productivity and competitiveness. Tourism requires reliable infrastructure. Essential services such as healthcare, education, and water supply rely heavily on uninterrupted electricity. In short, electricity affects not only convenience, but also economic strength and quality of life.

This is why SE-RAMP 2040 is so important. It represents Sabah’s commitment to a structured, forward-looking approach—ensuring that the energy sector grows in step with Sabah’s ambitions up to 2040, rather than reacting only when challenges arise.

Balancing security, affordability and sustainability

Modern energy planning is often described through the concept of the “energy trilemma” which balances three key objectives.

First is energy security, which means ensuring that electricity supply is sufficient, stable and resilient. Second is energy affordability, ensuring that tariffs remain reasonable and manageable for households and businesses. Third is environmental sustainability, which involves reducing emissions and pollution by increasing cleaner sources of power.

Balancing these three objectives is never simple. For example, while conventional generation may provide steady output, sustainability requires a gradual transition to cleaner options. Renewable energy brings clear environmental benefits, but it must be integrated carefully to ensure grid stability and reliability. SE-RAMP 2040 provides a strategic pathway for Sabah to manage this balance through system strengthening, diversification of the energy mix, and progressive renewable energy development.

Key aspirations under SE-RAMP 2040

Among the most meaningful targets under SE-RAMP 2040 is the aspiration to achieve 100% rural electrification by 2030. This is a powerful commitment to inclusivity. In today’s world, electricity is not a luxury—it is essential infrastructure. When rural communities have access to reliable power, students can study more effectively, clinics can operate with confidence, small businesses can expand, and communities can participate more fully in the digital economy. While implementation will naturally be carried out in phases—subject to technical, financial and logistical considerations—the direction is clear: Sabah aims to ensure that no community is left behind.

SE-RAMP 2040 also supports the move toward a more sustainable electricity tariff framework by 2030. In practical terms, this means strengthening the long-term stability of the electricity system while ensuring that tariffs remain fair and manageable. A sustainable tariff framework supports continuous investment in infrastructure upgrades, maintenance, and expansion, while also providing certainty for consumers and businesses. This stability is essential for long-term economic planning and investor confidence.

Another major focus of SE-RAMP 2040 is the expansion of renewable energy. Sabah aims to significantly increase renewable energy contribution through sources such as solar, hydropower, and bioenergy. This aligns with global trends and is well-suited to Sabah’s natural strengths. Sabah has strong solar potential, selected hydropower opportunities, and biomass resources linked to agricultural activities. Developing renewables will not only reduce dependence on imported fuels but also strengthen energy resilience and support environmental stewardship.

At the same time, SE-RAMP 2040 prioritises improving grid reliability and service performance, including indicators such as the System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI). For the public, this simply means fewer disruptions, shorter outage durations, and a more dependable electricity supply. These improvements are expected to be achieved progressively through system reinforcement, modernisation programmes, and coordinated infrastructure upgrades.

Supporting the SMJ 2.0 development agenda

SE-RAMP 2040 plays an enabling role in supporting SMJ 2.0’s wider objectives. Firstly, it strengthens Sabah’s economic competitiveness. SMJ 2.0 aims to grow and diversify the economy through sectors such as industry, tourism, agriculture and services. These sectors rely on stable electricity to operate efficiently. Industrial production, logistics, automation, hospitality operations, cold-chain supply systems and modern farming all require dependable power. In this way, SE-RAMP 2040 supports economic growth by ensuring energy infrastructure keeps pace with development needs.

Secondly, it supports human capital development. The modernisation of the energy sector creates demand for engineers, technicians, project managers and skilled workers. Renewable energy projects, grid upgrades, digital monitoring systems and energy efficiency programmes offer opportunities for Sabahans and particularly the younger generation and to build careers in high-value technical fields. This aligns strongly with SMJ 2.0’s emphasis on talent development and quality employment.

Thirdly, SE-RAMP 2040 strengthens inclusivity and wellbeing. Rural electrification and improved energy access reduce inequality between rural and urban communities. Reliable electricity enhances education, improves healthcare delivery, supports safety, and strengthens connectivity. It also enables rural entrepreneurship and digital inclusion, which contributes to SMJ 2.0’s goal of uplifting the people’s economy.

Finally, SE-RAMP 2040 supports Sabah’s environmental responsibility. SMJ 2.0 aligns with sustainability principles such as SDGs and ESG. The shift toward cleaner energy under SE-RAMP 2040 helps protect Sabah’s rich biodiversity and natural environment. This is not only an environmental commitment but also an economic strategy, as Sabah’s eco-tourism and natural heritage are among its most valuable long-term assets.

Conclusion: Powering Sabah’s future through strategic planning

In conclusion, the Sabah Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2040 (SE-RAMP 2040) is one of Sabah’s most important long-term strategic frameworks. It addresses key priorities such as energy security, reliability, affordability and sustainability while setting meaningful aspirations such as expanded rural electrification and greater renewable energy integration.

More importantly, it aligns closely with Sabah’s broader development agenda under SMJ 2.0, serving as a key enabler for economic growth, human capital development, inclusive progress, and environmental stewardship. The successful implementation of SE-RAMP 2040 will require phased execution, continuous investment, and strong collaboration among relevant agencies, industry stakeholders, and the wider community.

Energy planning may appear technical, but its impact is deeply human. When electricity is stable, communities thrive, businesses grow, students learn more effectively, essential services improve, and investor confidence strengthens. When energy becomes cleaner and more efficient, the environment is protected and future generations benefit.

SE-RAMP 2040, therefore, should be seen not only as an energy roadmap, but as a vital development platform and one that supports the ambitions of SMJ 2.0 and strengthens Sabah’s journey toward a more resilient, prosperous, and sustainable future.

Source: https://www.theborneopost.com/2026/02/08/sabah-energy-transformation-2040-securing-clean-reliable-power-for-smj-2-0-and-beyond/