Sabah Buying Power from Sarawak: The Lawas–Mengalong Link Explained

Is Sabah buying electricity from Sarawak?

Yes. The Sarawak–Sabah interconnection links a substation at Lawas in Sarawak to the substation at Mengalong, near Sipitang, by a 275 kV transmission line. According to Sarawak Energy, power exchange began on 13 December 2025 and the link was officially energised on 24 January 2026. It supplies up to 50 MW from Sarawak to Sabah, with capacity able to increase subject to system readiness and future planning.

Why does Sabah need Sarawak's power?

Sabah has been short of spare generating capacity: its reserve margin was 8% in 2024, far below the 30% to 35% industry standard (see why Sabah has so many power cuts). The state energy plan, SE-RAMP 2040, lists these benefits of the interconnection:

• Less frequency dip, which should reduce under-frequency load shedding and blackouts.
• A stronger reserve margin and spinning reserve, and more stability against sudden shortfalls, for example when solar output drops.
• A greener option, because Sarawak's power comes largely from hydro.
• Lower generation and operating costs, and less need for new plants to cover peak demand.

What did the state plan expect, and what happened?

Mengalong is also the western end of the planned Southern Link, the second 275 kV route to the east coast. SE-RAMP calls Mengalong the gateway for the Sarawak interconnection; the first 60 km section of the Southern Link, from Mengalong to Upper Padas, is due in September 2028.

Could Sabah link to Kalimantan or the Philippines?

SE-RAMP's Strategy A6 aims to make Sabah an energy exporter and "power wheeler" to its neighbours within BIMP-EAGA. It mentions:

• North Kalimantan, Indonesia: the Kayan Cascade project, with a hydropower unit of 900 MW planned in 2026; North Kalimantan has shown interest in supplying electricity to Sabah.
• Palawan, the Philippines: Sabah is engaged with Palawan on a grid link, with possible links to Mindanao, Tawi-Tawi and Lanao del Sur.
• BIMP-EAGA: discussions at the BIMP-EAGA power cluster forum, following an Asian Development Bank study.

Status as of September 2026: planned in 2023; we have found no later official update on a Sabah–Kalimantan or Sabah–Palawan link.

Nationally, the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) lists a Sabah Energy Security Initiative, championed by the Energy Commission of Sabah, as one of its flagship projects: large-scale solar and small hydro, a policy to secure biowaste feedstock, and a feasibility study on geothermal power.

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