By Karen Bong
KUCHING, July 15: Kuching has the potential to become a regional reference point for integrated and sustainable resource management as Sarawak advances its water, energy and environmental transformation agenda.
Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the State’s strengths in renewable energy, hydropower, hydrogen development and water resource management provided a foundation for Kuching to demonstrate how resources could be managed in an interconnected and sustainable manner.
Delivering his keynote address entitled “Strengthening Global Collaboration for Water Security and Sustainable Development” at BIWWEC 2026 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today, he said water, energy and sustainability must be managed together rather than separately.
“Building on our strengths in renewable energy development, particularly hydropower and hydrogen, as well as our ongoing transformation of the water sector, we see growing potential for Kuching to serve as a reference point for integrated and sustainable resource management in the region,” he said.
Abang Johari said Sarawak was embracing a future where intelligent, data-driven and connected systems would transform water governance.
Among the initiatives being implemented are smart metering, geographic information system (GIS) mapping and leakage detection technologies to improve operational efficiency and reduce non-revenue water.
“These innovations allow us to move from reactive management to predictive and preventive systems, ensuring better decision-making and more sustainable resource use,” he said.
Abang Johari said water was also a key enabler of Sarawak’s energy transition, with the State exploring innovations such as floating solar systems on hydropower reservoirs to optimise natural resources.
He added that water would continue to play a critical role in Sarawak’s hydrogen development agenda, where it supports the production of zero-emission fuel for the future.
Beyond water supply, Abang Johari said Sarawak was also strengthening wastewater management through environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles and circular economy approaches.
Technologies such as sludge-to-energy systems were being explored to convert waste into useful resources, reducing environmental impact while improving system efficiency.
“This is part of our broader vision to build a circular water economy that is resilient, efficient and sustainable,” he said.
Abang Johari said the transformation of Sarawak’s water sector aligned with the State’s Post Cocid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which aims to create a high-income, developed, inclusive and sustainable economy. — DayakDaily
