Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg
KUCHING: Sarawak currently has 3,558MW of large-scale hydropower capacity in operation, forming the backbone of a stable, low-carbon electricity system.
This foundation will be further strengthened with an additional 1,285MW of hydropower capacity from the Baleh hydropower plant, which is scheduled to come on stream by 2030, said Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Construction of the Baleh dam project commenced several years ago. It is located in the interiors of Kapit Division, alongside Bakun dam (2,400MW) and Murum dam (944MW).
“We are also exploring the development of cascading hydropower and floating solar installations on existing reservoirs in order to increase our generating capacity to 10GW by 2030 and 15GW by 2035, thus positioning Sarawak as a regional renewable energy (RE) powerhouse and the battery of Asean,” said Abang Johari at the launch of the energisation of the Sarawak-Sabah Power Grid Interconnection project at the Sabah International Convention Centre on Saturday.
The Sarawak premier and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor jointly performed the launch.
State-owned Sarawak Energy Bhd began exporting an initial 30MW of electricity to Sabah last month.
Abang Johari said the Sarawak-Sabah interconnection is a practical demonstration of how renewable resources can support the energy transition in real, tangible ways.
“By enabling greater operational flexibility between our two power systems, the interconnection enhances system reliability and strengthens energy security,” he said.
He added that this shared milestone with Sabah builds on Sarawak’s experience in cross-border power cooperation.
“Since 2016, Sarawak has been exporting electricity to West Kalimantan (Indonesia), marking our first cross-border power interconnection.
“This decade-long partnership has demonstrated the tangible benefits of regional energy cooperation, including improved system reliability, more efficient resource utilisation, stronger cross-border relationships, and enhanced sustainability outcomes through reduced reliance on carbon-intensive generation.
“The experience gained from this interconnection laid the foundation for the Sarawak-Sabah interconnection and reinforced the understanding that power interconnections are not merely technical projects, but strategic enablers of shared and sustainable growth,” Abang Johari said.
Aligning closely with Sarawak’s Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030, the Sarawak-Sabah interconnection supports inclusive and sustainable economic development, strengthens electricity reliability, and facilitates economic activity across both states.
At the same time, it advances the objectives of the Sarawak Energy Transition Policy by enabling Sarawak to share its RE resources, contributing to a more balanced and low-carbon energy mix for the region.
Stressing Sarawak’s readiness to take on a greater role in regional energy development, Abang Johari said Sarawak and Brunei had agreed in principle to develop an interconnection for power exports to the sultanate by 2030.
Meanwhile, the issuance of conditional approval was a significant milestone for the Sarawak-Singapore interconnection project, paving the way for the export of up to 1GW of RE to Singapore, with operations anticipated by the mid-2030s or earlier.
Feasibility studies are also underway for a similar link to Peninsular Malaysia.
Together, these initiatives lay the groundwork for the development of an interconnected Borneo, forming the Borneo Grid, where enhanced connectivity will enable better system planning, improved management of variability, and greater integration of RE while maintaining reliability and resilience as energy demand continues to grow.
Beyond Borneo, this project contributes directly to the realisation of the Asean Power Grid, a regional network built on reliability, mutual benefit and shared prosperity.
Abang Johari said the Sarawak-Sabah interconnection represents a critical link in this Asean network.
By providing the physical and operational backbone, it positions Sarawak and Sabah as key contributors to Asean’s sustainable energy future and as a model for how sub-national initiatives can support regional energy security and sustainability.
As Asean moves towards a fully-integrated power system, he said interconnections like the Sarawak-Sabah link will be vital for facilitating electricity trade, balancing supply and demand, and supporting a low-carbon, renewable-driven energy landscape.
“As we look ahead, Sarawak remains firmly committed to strategic energy planning that drives sustainable development, strengthens regional cooperation, and enhances long-term economic competitiveness.
“We will continue to invest in resilient infrastructure and accelerate the energy transition, ensuring elecriticty remains affordable, reliable and accessible for all,” said Abang Johari.
Hajiji said the Sarawak-Sabah interconnection will strengthen the former’s electricity supply system, making it more stable, reliable and sustainable as demand continues to rise.
“This will lead to a phased reduction in our dependence on fossil fuel-based generation, strengthen Sabah’s electricity reserve margin, and further boost investor confidence in the reliability of the state’s power supply,” added the Sabah chief minister.
