By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, April 1: Strategically located at the centre of the Asia-Pacific, Sarawak is well-positioned to emerge as a key player in new energy development, aligning with the shifting global energy landscape conflicts in the Middle East.
In a TVS news, Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni emphasised that Sarawak holds significant advantages in natural resources and geography, including its extensive river systems for hydropower and ample sunlight for solar energy development.
“Sarawak’s central position in the Asia-Pacific also makes it a strategic hub for energy exports, in line with its role as the ‘battery of ASEAN’.
“From the outset, Sarawak has taken proactive steps not only to ensure preparedness against potential disruptions in oil and gas supply, but also to transition towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources,” he said at a press conference after attending a briefing by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) Norway today.
He stressed that the world can no longer depend entirely on oil and gas, and must instead strengthen regional cooperation, particularly within the Asia-Pacific, to develop a sustainable green energy framework.
More importantly, Sarawak’s ongoing collaboration with DNV, a Norway-based international verification body, has enabled deeper insights into the State’s clean energy potential.
Meanwhile, DNV’s Regional Head of Energy Systems for Asia-Pacific (Hydrogen and CCUS), Dr Thomas Koller, described Sarawak’s central Asia-Pacific location as reinforcing its role as the ‘battery of ASEAN’ in supporting the regional carbon agenda.
“Sarawak has integrated hydrogen across multiple economic sectors, and moving forward, the focus will be on scaling up production to meet both domestic and international demand.
“I believe Sarawak’s strong renewable energy base has placed it in a highly advantageous position,” he added. — DayakDaily
