Kota Kinabalu, 08 August 2024 – EV Connection (EVC), the operator of the
JomCharge EV Charging network, and Gentari became the first parties to receive
licences for public installation of EV Charging Systems in Sabah from the
Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS). The licence handover ceremony was held on 1
August 2024 at BMW Motorrad Regas Premium Sabah and also BYD Regas Sabah
located in Kolombong, Kota Kinabalu.
ECoS licences are equivalent to the
licences issued by Suruhanjaya Tenaga (ST) in Peninsular Malaysia and are
pivotal in ensuring safe installations that comply with safety standards to
protect public usage. EVC and Gentari were also the first parties in Peninsular
Malaysia to be licenced by ST. The ECoS licences were handed over by ECoS CEO,
Datuk Ir. Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid and ECoS COO Ridwan Saham to the respective
parties.
ECoS is a statutory body
established by the State Government of Sabah since 10 January 2023. It operates
as the official regulator for the energy sector within the Chief Minister's
portfolio. The primary objectives of ECoS are to ensure secure, sustainable,
affordable, and accessible energy for the State of Sabah. It plays a pivotal
role in shaping Sabah’s energy landscape, promoting responsible energy
practices, and safeguarding the interests of both consumers and the
environment.
Prior to the licence handover
ceremony, ECoS organised a briefing session that was attended by
representatives from BOMBA, local
authorities, installation contractors, and EV Charge Point Operators (CPOs) at
the Asaya Hotel.
"As a step to ensure safe
installations that comply with standards to protect public usage, all EV
Charging Station (EVCS) operators must obtain a licence before commencing
operations, in line with the requirements in Section 8 of the Enactment,"
said Datuk Ir. Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid, Chief Executive Officer of ECoS.
Haikal Zubir, Chief Operating
Officer of Gentari Green Mobility remarked, “Gentari is committed towards
supporting the green mobility transition across the whole of Malaysia. Being
the first CPO to be licensed in Sabah in partnership with EVC underscores
Gentari’s focus on safety, reliability and customer-centricity in our operations.
We are proud to offer the largest network of licensed charging points across
Malaysia and are continuously working to add new chargers.”
Ir Lee Yuen How, Managing Director
of EVC commented, “We are very honoured to be one of the first CPOs alongside
Gentari to receive these licences from ECoS. Public safety whilst charging has
always been of paramount importance to us and we look forward to working
closely with ECoS in ensuring this.”
As the number of EVs continuously
grows in Sabah, EVC and Gentari is committed to supporting the Sabah EV
Charging infrastructure that is required
to underpin such growth. This is in line with the sustainable energy agenda as a strategic
initiative stated in the Sabah Energy Roadmap & Masterplan 2040 and also in
tune with the federal government’s target of achieving 10,000 public chargers
by 2025.