By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 31: Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, along with his family, had the opportunity to ride the E-Penambang, the first electric river taxi on the Sarawak River, on Saturday night (Aug 30).
According to a media statement, the E-Penambang initiative aims to enhance Kuching City’s iconic water transportation with features that are safer, more efficient, environmentally friendly, and low-carbon, while preserving the traditional design of the riverboat.
The Premier was also briefed by the Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) and Sarawak Energy on the operations of the E-Penambang, which now consists of nine riverboats along with a solar-powered charging station located at the Kampung Sungai Bintangor Pontoon Jetty.
Also present were Datuk Ibrahim Baki, Deputy Minister for Utilities (Sarawak Energy and PETROS); Dato Hilmy Othman, Mayor of DBKU; Mohamad Faisal Adenan, deputy director of DBKU’s Infrastructure Services Department; and officials from Sarawak Energy.
On Aug 18, it was reported that nine existing river taxis in Kuching have been upgraded with electric vehicle (EV) systems under the E-Penambang Project, along with the installation of Sarawak’s first floating solar charging station at Kampung Sungai Bintangor Pontoon Jetty here, marking a breakthrough in the State’s drive towards sustainable river transport.
Led by DBKU in collaboration with Sarawak Energy, the Centre of Technical Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS), and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), the project began in April this year and is scheduled for full completion by June 2026. — DayakDaily
