KUCHING, Sept 19: Sarawak Energy is exploring new opportunities in a green energy economy, says Sharbini Suhaili, Sarawak Energy Group chief executive officer.
He said in addition to exporting renewable energy to Indonesia, Sarawak Energy was also piloting a hydrogen production and refuelling station.
“The rate at which the global energy scenario is transforming is astonishing. We are aware that if we want to remain relevant and move into the top quartile level of the industry, we need to continually adapt to align our people, process and systems to keep pace with the changing global scene.
“While we pursue initiatives to adopt technologies that will change the way we operate, people are at the heart of this. We can have the best technology and equipment, but if we do not have a workforce that is knowledgeable in utilising and optimising these technologies, then we will not be successful,” he said at the Conference of the Electric Power Supply Industry (CEPSI) 2018 in Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here today.
Sharbini’s presentation, ‘Digitalising Our Business: A Sustainable Energy Future for Sarawak & Beyond’, touched on some of the major initiatives Sarawak Energy had embarked on towards becoming a digital utility by 2025.
He dwelled on how Sarawak’s primary electricity provider and energy developer is adapting to the changing global energy scenario through digitalisation, innovation and research into alternative energy sources at a keynote session themed ‘Future Utility and Sustainable Development’.
In addition to giving a brief overview of Sarawak Energy, Sharbini highlighted the utility’s three-pronged digital journey focusing on People, System and Process.
“We are taking a strategic position with our early involvement in hydrogen so that we can exploit potential opportunities as the technology matures and becomes commercially attractive. This pilot hydrogen production and refuelling station allow us to research the commercial viability of a hydrogen economy through the production, delivery, storage and utilisation of this clean energy, including industrial applications as well as for greening the transportation sector,” he said.
On the sidelines, technical sessions were held simultaneously during the three-day convention. Sarawak Energy representatives from various departments also presented their papers at these sessions.
Also on the panel of speakers were IBM Energy, Environment and Utility Industry global managing director Brad Gammons, BMW Group Head of Product Management (BMW i) Dr Alexander Kotouc and Institute of Energy Economics, Japan chief economist and managing director Dr Ken Koyama.
The session was moderated by Eoin Daly, senior partner of McKinsey & Company Malaysia.
The conference was declared opened on Tuesday by Yeo Bee Yin, Minister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change. It also featured a special address by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. — DayakDaily
