By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Feb 26: Sarawak must achieve full electricity coverage before positioning itself as the “Battery of ASEAN”, says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said Sarawak is already supplying energy to Kalimantan, Indonesia, and is working within the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) framework to expand power-sharing agreements with Brunei and Sabah, and with the southern Philippines through the proposed Sabah-Palawan interconnection.
He further outlined Sarawak’s efforts to explore various renewable energy sources to generate 10 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 and 15 GW by 2035, including solar power, Oceanic Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC), and tidal energy, with the tidal wave energy currently being tested in Bintulu.
“We have all the resources; what we need now is the technology. If energy prices remain competitive, we can export power to our clients.
“But I must emphasise here that Sarawak must be fully connected first,” he said when officiating Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak’s (CENTEXS) 9th convocation ceremony at the institution today.
He assured that by 2030, Sarawak will achieve 100 per cent power coverage, except for remote jungle locations where connectivity remains a challenge.
“Some might say, ‘Oh, there’s no electricity here,’ but if you are alone deep in the jungle, how can we bring power lines just for one person?” he remarked, adding that all strategic areas will have access to electricity within the next six years.
Abang Johari also highlighted the evolving electricity demands in Sarawak’s rural areas, noting a shift from basic power needs to higher-capacity energy requirements.
“In the past, rural communities would simply ask for electricity in their longhouses under the Rural Electrification Program.
“Today, the demand has changed. They no longer need just a single-phase connection—they need three-phase power,” he said.
He attributed this change to modernised lifestyles, where many longhouses now use appliances such as dryers and refrigerators, increasing overall electricity consumption.
“That’s why we are working to ensure that all rural areas in Sarawak have access to three-phase power to meet their growing energy needs,” he added. – DayakDaily
