By Lian Cheng and Christopher Lidom
KUCHING, Feb 21: Being Malaysia’s largest renewable energy developer, Sarawak Energy Berhad’s (Sarawak Energy) experts are sought after by other countries to share their expertise.
Its group chief executive officer (CEO) Datu Sharbini Suhaili said the government-linked company (GLC) is now Malaysia’s largest renewable energy developer.
In outlining its achievement during its centenary celebration held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today, Sharbini said with the guidance of the Sarawak government, the company is now ahead of the sustainable energy development curve, transitioning from a generation mix that was 100 per cent fossil fuel when it began in the 1920s to over 90 per cent fossil fuel in 2010 to predominantly renewable hydropower today.
“We have almost met our target of achieving full electrification of Sarawak by 2025,” said Sharbini.
He said this aligns with United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 7 — ‘access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all’.
From a customer base of just 84 in southern Sarawak in the 1920s, Sarawak Energy now provides electricity to over 740,000 accounts, serving a population of almost three million people in Sarawak, with customers in Indonesia.
In terms of staff members, the company started with around 30 staff members and today, it is amongst the largest employers of professional Sarawak talent with 5,400 purposeful and dedicated employees.
“In fact, our subject matter experts are sought after to share their knowledge and technical expertise beyond our borders,” said Sharbini.
He said these accomplishments were made possible by the support and strategic direction of the Sarawak government, with much of today’s major corporate achievements a direct result of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy which was launched in 2008.
“We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Sarawak and Sarawak Energy’s past leaders who put in place robust strategies to steer the company’s steady growth,” said Sharbini. — DayakDaily
