By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Oct 30: Sarawak is exploring the potential of its salt and sodium resources as strategic raw materials for the new economy, particularly with the emergence of sodium-ion battery technology as an alternative to conventional lithium-based batteries.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said sodium was becoming an important raw material in the evolving technology landscape, with developments in battery technology potentially creating new economic opportunities for resource-rich Sarawak.
He pointed out that the transition from lithium-based to sodium-ion batteries could increase the value of sodium, a material found in salt, which Sarawak has in abundance, including in Bario.
“I read a book called World Materials, which discusses the importance of sand and salt as fundamental materials underpinning technological development today.
“Just imagine the value of salt. It is not merely something we use as a condiment or to accompany our food. It could become a fundamental component of the new economy,” he said when officiating the 33rd Sarawak Premier Special Award and Sarawak Education Award 2026 at Hikmah Exchange Event Centre today.
He said Sarawak must look beyond the conventional uses of its natural resources and develop the scientific knowledge and technological capabilities needed to identify, process and add value to them.
He stressed that possessing abundant resources alone was insufficient if the State could not transform them into higher-value products.
The Premier also highlighted the importance of satellite technology in identifying and understanding the State’s natural resources, reiterating Sarawak’s ambition to launch its own satellite by 2030.
He said the State was exploring the use of nanosatellites, or CubeSats, operating in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), to capture images and gather information about the Earth’s surface.
“Such technology would enable Sarawak to obtain valuable data about its natural resources, which could support future economic planning and industrial development.
“Data is becoming a key driver of the new economy and Sarawak must be able to collect, manage and protect its own information, or sovereign data,” he explained.
Abang Johari said these ambitions reinforced the need to prepare Sarawakian students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), particularly in specialised fields that could support emerging industries.
He also highlighted the growing importance of semiconductors, microelectronics and artificial intelligence (AI), saying these technologies would shape the next phase of global economic development.
He said Sarawak must invest in education and develop its own pool of experts so that the State could transform its natural resources into finished products and higher-value industries.
“God willing, as long as we remain in government, the Sarawak government will continue to place strong emphasis on transforming education to prepare Sarawakian children for the future.
“We will continue working together to develop our children into specialists in emerging fields so that they can respond effectively to the changes taking place in our economy.
“Hopefully, we will achieve our ambition of making Sarawak a global player in the new economy,” he added. — DayakDaily
