Could the power outage have been prevented with earlier project completion?

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Earlier Completion of Transmission Line Project Could Have Prevented Power Outage

The significant power outage experienced on Saturday night could have been prevented had the additional double-circuit transmission line project from Murum Hydroelectric Plant (HEP) to Samalaju-B been completed according to its original schedule in 2018. This project was intended to enhance the resilience of the power grid.
Cause of the Outage

Investigations by Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) determined that the power disruption was directly caused by lightning strikes impacting the 275kV Murum junction transmission lines. Data from lightning tracking and recording devices confirmed the strikes as the originating event.
Grid Protection Mechanism

Following the lightning strikes, an automatic load shedding mechanism was immediately activated. This system is designed to protect the overall grid from collapse by automatically shedding power to segments of the network when an anomaly is detected.
Restoration Timeline and Affected Areas

Despite the disruption, SEB reported that the progressive restoration of power supply commenced within 20 minutes after the lightning strikes occurred. The outage, which began around 9:30 pm, affected a wide geographical area, including customers in Kuching, Sri Aman, Sarikei, Mukah, Sibu, Bintulu, and sections of Miri.
Project Delay and Historical Context

The failure of the Murum transmission lines represents the first instance of double-circuit tripping experienced on this specific line since its commissioning in 2014. The delay in the completion of the associated double-circuit transmission line project, which was initially slated for completion in 2018, is identified as a critical factor that could have mitigated the impact of the lightning strike.

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Could the power outage have been prevented with earlier project completion?

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