By Shikin Louis
INDONESIA, Oct 31: Sarawak will soon commence formal discussions with Indonesia as to the proposed undersea interconnection project with Singapore which will run through Indonesian waters, says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said Sarawak is venturing beyond the Borneo Power Grid as part of the regional Asean Power Grid by getting connected with Singapore.
“Sarawak Energy Berhad (Sarawak Energy) together with their partners Sembcorp lndustries and Singapore Power Group have completed comprehensive technical studies and are well advanced in the commercial negotiations for a potential interconnection with Singapore.
“With the blessing of Malaysia’s Prime Minister for our direct connection to Singapore as agreed in the bilateral meeting between Malaysia and Singapore two days ago; in the positive spirit of Asean and with full respect for Indonesia’s sovereignty and interests, we will soon commence formal discussions with Indonesia as the proposed undersea interconnection project will run through Indonesian waters,” he said when delivering a speech at the 2023 World Hydropower Congress in Bali, Indonesia today.
Abang Johari further said Sarawak’s first power exchange with its partner Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) in West Kalimantan in 2016 has demonstrated the shared benefits of interconnection, paving the way for other bilateral interconnection projects to advance the Borneo Grid.
In 2021, Sarawak signed a Power Exchange Agreement with Sabah Electricity that will trigger the export of power to its Malaysian neighbour by mid-2024.
Abang Johari also said that building upon this platform, Sarawak has partnered with strong Indonesian partners, Adaro and Kayan Patria Pratama to develop the 1,375MW Mentarang Induk Hydroelectric Project (MIHEP) in North Kalimantan.
“This multi-billion-dollar project is a joint effort to provide affordable, reliable and sustainable renewable energy to support Indonesia’s Green Industrial Park in North Kalimantan. Early works for MIHEP are well underway and the project is on track for first power by the end of this decade,” he elaborated.
Additionally, Sarawak is also working on a power exchange agreement with Brunei for electricity export.
Indonesian president Joko Widodo; Indonesia’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Arifin Tasrif; International Hydropower Association (IHA) president Malcolm Turnbull; and Yudo Dwinande Priaadi, director-general of New Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation under Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources Indonesia were among those present. — DayakDaily
