By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, June 16: Sarawak aims to increase its power generation capacity from 7 gigawatts (GW) to 10GW by 2030, with a strong focus on renewable energy, in a move that Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg says will benefit not only Sarawak and Malaysia, but the entire ASEAN region.
Speaking at the welcoming dinner of the 43rd ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Energy (SOME) and Its Associated Events held at a local hotel here this evening, Abang Johari outlined Sarawak’s energy development plans as part of its contribution to regional energy security.
He said Sarawak currently has an installed capacity of 7GW, of which 65 per cent comes from hydropower and the remainder from gas turbines.
“It is the intention of the Sarawak government to increase the supply of power to 10 gigawatts by 2030. We have another four years to go, and we have to increase by at least three gigawatts.
“In this respect, the Sarawak government still maintains the ratio of 60 to 70 per cent renewable energy based on hydropower, and the rest by 2030 on gas turbine,” he said.
To support this, Sarawak is currently developing a 1.5GW gas turbine plant, with 1,000 megawatts in Bintulu and 500 megawatts in Miri.
On top of that, the Baleh Hydroelectric Project, which he visited earlier today, is set to contribute an additional 1.2GW once completed.
“What happened as a result of this, the next 4 years we are able to add another 3 gigawatts to the present installed capacity of 7 gigawatts,” he explained.
Despite Sarawak’s relatively small population of over 2.8 million, Abang Johari said the State is prepared to share its energy resources with others in the region.
“Sarawak is a small country, with a population of over 2.8 million, and if we have the surplus of power, we share with our brothers and sisters in ASEAN,” he added.
Abang Johari also reaffirmed Sarawak’s strong commitment to clean energy innovation, especially in advancing hydrogen as a future fuel source, through collaborations with international partners including Japan and Korea to produce hydrogen from water using electrolysis.
“Though at the moment it is expensive, we believe that over time, the technology will advance, and the cost involved in producing hydrogen through a new membrane in the process of electrolysis will make hydrogen feasible as an alternative energy.
“Sarawak has decided to go that way, whatever happens, and we have to adopt and study the new technology,” he stressed.
Sarawak’s push for hydrogen includes a groundbreaking public transport initiative using hydrogen-powered Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART), which is expected to be operational next year and could be the first of its kind in the region.
Sarawak’s energy strategy also includes cross-border collaboration. Abang Johari pointed out that the State has been supplying electricity to West Kalimantan, Indonesia, for the past six years, effectively forming part of the ASEAN Power Grid.
Additionally, Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) holds a 25 per cent equity in the Mentarang Induk Hydroelectric Project (MIHEP) in North Kalimantan, strengthening bilateral cooperation in sustainable energy.
Efforts are also underway to export power to Sabah, with a firm supply of 100MW expected to begin next year via a new grid connection. Discussions are ongoing to extend the grid further to the southern Philippines through Sabah, pending federal government approval.
Looking ahead, the Premier unveiled Sarawak’s intent to formulate a Sarawak Gas Roadmap, to be developed by State-owned Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS).
“That grid will cover the whole Sarawak region, and perhaps one day will be extended to our Borneo neighbours. We have the resource, especially in terms of gas reserves, and we are going to collaborate with our partners to provide gas not only for Sarawak, but also for our neighbours,” he stated.
Abang Johari also touched on the State’s carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) initiatives and its growing methanol exports. Sarawak is currently producing 5,000 tonnes of methanol per day, with shipments being exported to China. He said this could eventually be converted into ammonia for use in industries such as shipping.
Also present were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof; Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA) secretary-general Dato Mad Zaidi Mohd Karli; and Deputy Secretary-General for the ASEAN Economic Community, Satvinder Singh. – DayakDaily
