KOTA KINABALU – Sabah has taken an unprecedented major step towards controlling its own gas industry with the launch of the Sabah Energy Commission (ECoS) today.
ECoS chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid said the commission begins operations today to monitor and implement more effective development plans for onshore gas supply in the state.
“At the same time, ECoS ensures that they (development plans) are in line with the state’s development plans,” he said in a statement today.
Earlier today, the Sabah assembly passed two bills related to the transfer of gas supply regulatory power from the federal government to the state, namely the Sabah State Energy Commission Bill 2023 and the Gas Supply Bill 2023.
The passing of the former has established ECoS, which is empowered to perform regulatory functions for the gas supply sector in Sabah so that all activities in the sector can be controlled and carried out effectively and efficiently.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor had said in the assembly that the transfer of the gas supply regulatory authority was the first phase of the plan to take over the power sector in Sabah.
The second phase, the takeover of the Electricity Supply and Renewable Energy Regulatory Authority from the federal government, is expected to take place in April this year.
Nasser thanked Hajiji and the government for the development and said it is a starting point towards Sabah having the authority to monitor and control the state’s own energy.
The federal cabinet had made the decision to devolve the authority to supervise decisions and activities related to gas sourced from Sabah to the state at a meeting on December 21.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had then said that this was done in view of the ongoing effort to restore the Malaysia Agreement 1963, and that more such restorations of rights will be announced this month.
Meanwhile, Nasser also announced today that the ECoS website was launched today to ensure that the devolution process runs smoothly without affecting existing licence holders.
The website www.ecos.gov.my will allow the application of licences, certificates, and other matters requiring ECoS approval to be done online.
It also provides various references for the public, such as copies of enactments, rules, guidelines, and more that can be downloaded. It also features several important pieces of information for public knowledge relating to the energy sector. – The Vibes, January 10, 2023
