(Kuching, 17th) So far this year, Sarawak Electricity Supply Corporation (SESCO) has recorded 48 incidents of underground cable damage, all of which investigations traced back to construction works from the Kuching Urban Transport System project.
SESCO’s Chief Executive Officer, Lau Kim Swee, pointed out that underground cable damage not only causes interruptions to users’ electricity supply, but also poses a serious safety hazard to on-site repair technicians.
He said that damage to underground cables typically results in sudden power outages, affecting daily lives and business operations. “Underground cable damage will inevitably cause power supply interruptions, causing inconvenience to users and at the same time endangering the safety of operators working in high-risk environments.”
Lau Kim Swee made the above remarks after attending the Sarawak Energy Media Appreciation Dinner held at a renowned hotel in Kuching last night, and emphasized that all construction and excavation units should exercise greater caution and discipline, especially when working near SESCO’s cable lines.
He pointed out that SESCO has regularly issued notices and reminders to contractors through the “Contact Before Commencement” program, requiring them to contact the company prior to starting any work. “Once contractors contact us, SESCO will immediately dispatch a technical team to the project site to identify existing cable lines and provide necessary guidance.”
Lau Kim Swee added that this requirement applies to all construction projects regardless of scale or location, including large projects such as ART or KUT. “Any entity intending to carry out construction work must first obtain confirmation from SESCO, so that we can assist in identifying cable routes and thus avoid accidental incidents.”