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.