By Lian Cheng and Christopher Lidom
KUCHING, Feb 21: Sarawak Energy Berhad (Sarawak Energy) has decarbonised the State power system by 70 per cent within a decade through investments in renewable hydropower.
Sarawak Energy CEO Datu Sharbini Suhaili said the period 2010 to 2020 was an important decade for Sarawak Energy as a direct result of investment in hydropower development and focus on Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).
According to Sharbini, it has allowed Sarawak Energy to support Sarawak’s economic growth and significantly transform Sarawak’s energy sector.
“Sarawak Energy also recorded, amongst others, two key achievements delivered under the leadership of (Chief Minister) Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“Firstly is the acquisition of the 2,400MW Bakun Hydroelectric Plant (HEP) which increased generation capacity to more than 5,000MW, and secondly, the commissioning of Southeast Asia’s first integrated Hydrogen Production Plant and Refuelling Station after being tasked with spearheading Sarawak’s Green Hydrogen Agenda by the Sarawak Government,” he said.
Sharbini noted many important milestones were achieved during this period, including the commissioning of the 944MW Murum Hydroelectric Plant and the delivery of Sarawak’s first interconnection to West Kalimantan, Indonesia.
“Within a decade, we have increased our installed generation capacity by 3.8 times to 5,233MW, with large hydropower contributing 3,452MW to the total capacity, and almost doubled our workforce strength from 2,500 to 5,400 staff with an emphasis on cultivating diversity and inclusivity, as well as increasing our annual revenue by 3.6 times and reached the RM5 billion mark,” he added.
Sharbini said Sarawak Energy managed to halve its overall System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) with a new low of fewer than 100 minutes in 2019.
He explained this means that customers experience less than 100 minutes of power supply interruption over a given year on average, a massive improvement over the 242 minutes average maintained five years ago.
Apart from that, he said, Sarawak Energy has become one of Sarawak’s top employers of choice, with a strong reputation and brand in the energy and power sector, both regionally and internationally.
“This includes the introduction of our landmark Sustainability and Renewable Energy Forum (SAREF), cementing our reputation as a sustainability and renewable energy leader among stakeholders, launching Sarawak’s first renewable energy certificate, and increased rural electrification rate from 56 per cent in 2009 to 96.5 per cent in 2021,” he said. — DayakDaily
