Solar Power Brings 24-Hour Electricity to Remote Kampung Pitas Laut

3 February 2026

PITAS: Residents of Kampung Pitas Laut in Kinabatangan are now enjoying round-the-clock electricity following the completion of a community-based solar energy project, ending the village’s long-standing dependence on costly diesel generators.

The Indigenous Suluk fishing community recently completed a 39.2 kilowatt-hour (kWh) solar energy system, providing 24-hour power to homes and community facilities for the first time. The project also included the construction of a 200-metre steel bridge, improving access for a women-led group involved in turtle conservation along the coastline.

Kampung Pitas Laut, located within the Lower Kinabatangan–Segama Wetlands, is accessible only by boat and heavily influenced by tidal conditions. The village is home to about 150 residents across approximately 20 households, most of whom depend on small-scale fishing and marine harvesting for their livelihoods.

Prior to the project, electricity was supplied through shared diesel generators that operated for only a few hours each night. Diesel fuel had to be transported by boat, making it both expensive and unreliable.

“I used to spend more than RM700 a month just to buy diesel for our generator,” said villager Muhar. “Now we have electricity day and night, and we don’t have to worry about fuel anymore.”

The project was implemented under the Sabah Renewable Energy Rural Electrification (SabahRE2) Roadmap, which promotes renewable energy solutions for off-grid and rural communities across the state. Installation was carried out by TONIBUNG, an Indigenous-led organisation based in Sabah, in collaboration with Green Empowerment and Forever Sabah.

The solar system is owned and managed by the community, with locally managed tariff collection used to cover operation, maintenance and future upgrades. Project partners said the system was designed with excess capacity, enabling the development of small-scale economic activities such as ice production, fish cold storage and food processing, which were previously not feasible due to limited electricity supply.

Funding for the project was provided by Seacology, an international non-profit organisation supporting community-led conservation and livelihood initiatives in island and coastal regions, as well as EKOenergy, a global non-profit ecolabel that channels climate funds into renewable energy projects for rural communities.

Beyond electrification, the project places a strong emphasis on women’s leadership and conservation. The newly constructed steel bridge connects the village to turtle nesting sites along the coast, making it safer and more accessible for women conducting night patrols, monitoring and protection activities.

Fauziah Pullah, a representative of the women’s group, said the bridge has significantly improved their work. “Previously, access to the nesting areas was difficult and sometimes dangerous, especially at night,” she said. “Now we can monitor the turtles more safely, and women are leading this conservation effort.”

The Lower Kinabatangan–Segama Wetlands is a designated Ramsar Site and one of Sabah’s most important mangrove and marine ecosystems. With reliable electricity and improved access, the community is now exploring eco-tourism opportunities, including guided nature visits and conservation-related activities.

For TONIBUNG, the Pitas Laut project reflects its broader approach to rural electrification in Sabah and Sarawak, which prioritises community ownership, capacity building and long-term sustainability alongside technological solutions.

The project began with the fabrication of the solar house in June 2026, followed by solar panel installation in September 2026. The system was fully commissioned and handed over to the community in November 2026, with community-led tariff collection starting in December 2026.

Today, Kampung Pitas Laut stands as an example of how community-led renewable energy can reduce household costs, support conservation efforts and create new livelihood opportunities, even in Sabah’s most remote areas.