Sabah Southern Link Power Line: Route, Cost and Progress (2026)

What is the Southern Link?

The Southern Link is a high-voltage (275 kV) transmission line that will run along the south of Sabah, from the west coast grid at Mengalong, Sipitang, through Upper Padas in the interior, to the east coast grid. The state energy plan, SE-RAMP 2040, calls it the Southern Link. It is now called the Sabah Southern Madani Link (SSML). Sabah Electricity (SESB) is building it.

Why does Sabah need it?

Today the west and east coast grids are joined mainly by one line: the 275 kV Kolopis–Segaliud East-West Link. It carries power from the west coast to cover the east coast's shortfall. SE-RAMP calls this sole backbone a security risk in critical need of reinforcement.

The risk is real. On 13 September 2025 a tower on the Kolopis–Segaliud line collapsed in a landslide, and the line was not fully restored until 21 September. See why Sabah has so many power cuts.

According to SE-RAMP, the Southern Link will:

• Complete a loop around the 275 kV backbone, so power can reach the east coast by two routes.
• Give N-1 contingency for sources of power and N-2 contingency for transmission lines: the grid can lose one power source, or two lines, and keep supplying customers.
• Let cheaper west coast power (gas, hydro and imports from Sarawak) replace more costly generation on the east coast.
• Serve as the gateway for the Sabah-Sarawak interconnection at Mengalong.

What is the route and how far along is it?

Sources: The Star, 12 June 2026, quoting SESB; Borneo Post, 13 June 2026; route lengths for Phase 1B and the total from an engineer's column in the Borneo Post, 28 June 2026.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim launched the project at a groundbreaking ceremony in Sipitang on 13 June 2026.

How has the timeline changed?

SE-RAMP, published in 2023, planned Phase 1 (Mengalong to Upper Padas) by 2024 and Phase 2 (Upper Padas to PMU Tawau) by 2027. Neither date was met. The first 60 km section started construction in September 2025 and is now due in September 2028, and the remaining section has no published date.

What else connects to it?

• Sarawak power: the Sarawak-Sabah interconnection enters Sabah at Mengalong and has supplied up to 50 MW since 13 December 2025; see power from Sarawak.
• Upper Padas hydro: SE-RAMP says the main intake substation at Upper Padas will connect 357 MW of new hydropower expected by 2030. The Upper Padas dam itself was re-approved in May 2026 as 187.5 MW by end 2030; see renewable energy in Sabah.
• East coast: SE-RAMP says the Tawau end is to be upgraded in line with the Southern Link, and that the Segaliud–Dam Road line is the main supply to Kunak and Semporna.

Frequently asked questions