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By Lian Cheng and Ashley Sim
KUCHING, Sept 6: Sarawak Energy Bhd (Sarawak Energy) together with their partners Sembcorp International and Singapore Power Group have completed comprehensive technical studies and are well advanced in the commercial negotiations for an interconnection with Singapore, with direct undersea power cables linking Sarawak and Singapore.
According to Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, Sarawak is venturing beyond the Borneo Power Grid as part of the regional ASEAN Power Grid by becoming interconnected with Singapore.
This was confirmed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who in an event had said Malaysian utility companies, including Sarawak Energy, are progressing in the cross-border business, leveraging the ASEAN Power Grid.
“This will improve broader energy security prospects and further enhance economic integration with neighbouring countries. We are grateful for the support of the Federal government for Sarawak Energy’s role in this venture,” said Abang Johari when officiating at the ‘Sustainability and Renewable Energy 3.0: Regional Net Zero & Sustainable Communities Through Renewable Energy Development and Interconnections’ forum held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching here today.
He said Sarawak can play a central role in progressing regional energy transition by sharing its hydropower-based resources with regional neighbours via interconnections.
This is because Sarawak is in a prime central location in Southeast Asia, on Borneo’s northeast coast, sharing borders with Kalimantan, Indonesia as well as Brunei, and Sabah.
The fact that the Federal government has lifted the ban on cross-border trade in renewable energy in May this year has been seen as crucial in encouraging cross border electricity trade for the region as Sarawak has started its power interconnection with Indonesia since 2016.
“Interconnections are one of the primary ways for our region to achieve regional Net Zero and energy transition targets.
“Our first interconnection with West Kalimantan, Indonesia in 2016 was the first step towards realising the Borneo Power Grid and its success encouraged us to pursue similar bilateral interconnection projects,” said Abang Johari.
Building upon this strong relationship established with Sarawak’s Indonesian neighbours, Sarawak Energy is progressing the Mentarang Induk Hydroelectric Project or MIHEP in North Kalimantan via a joint venture company with Sarawak’s Indonesian partners.
Discussions and agreements regarding other interconnections have been progressing well where in 2021, Sarawak had signed power exchange and interconnection agreements with Sabah over an initial export of 30MW to 50MW over a 15-year period.
Sarawak is also working on a power exchange agreement with Brunei for electricity export.
“Collectively, the projects are vital building blocks for the aforementioned ASEAN Power Grid and in pursuing them, I believe Sarawak can become the ‘battery of ASEAN’ – helping to link power grids across the region,” said Abang Johari. — DayakDaily
