KUCHING: The Sarawak government is developing an integrated Kuching Low-Carbon Hub (KLCH) in Tanjung Embang, Kuching Division where the new Kuching International Airport and a new deep-sea port will be built.
Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg (pic) said KLCH would centre on sustainability, innovation and high-value investments.
“Supported by natural gas from western Sarawak, it will provide reliable lower-carbon energy for industries such as advanced manufacturing, food processing, digital economy and circular economy activities.”
KLCH is gaining strong international traction.
We have established strategic partnerships with leading industry players, namely China Jiangsu International and Sumitomo Corp Japan.
The growing interest from Europe and other regions reflects confidence in KLCH’s long-term potential.
“With its prime location and shared infrastructures, Tanjung Embang is well positioned to become a competitive low-carbon gateway for trade, logistics and green industries,” he added in the Sarawak state assembly session recently.
Abang Johari said a key part of the Tanjung Embang Master Plan includes the new Kuching International Airport and a deep-sea port which will facilitate connectivity, support trade and expand the state’s participation in regional and global supply chains.
He said the new airport project will be developed as a future-ready aviation hub, with an initial capacity of 15 million passengers a year, scalable to 60 million.
It will improve passenger travel and air cargo logistics, and maintenance, repair and overhaul services.
The new deep-sea port will handle larger cargo volumes, support industrial expansion and connect Sarawak more effectively to global trade while complementing hubs such as Bintulu and Samalaju, where energy-intensive industries like aluminium and ferroalloy smelting plants are located in the industrial park there.
The state capital is now served by the Senari deep-sea port and Pending port.
Abang Johari said the authorities are now in the process of finalising the detailed masterplan for Tanjung Embang, with physical and infrastructure development expected to begin next year through a public-private partnership (PPP) model.
“We are developing the Sarawak AI Blueprint and Roadmap towards 2030, exploring sovereign artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, building an AI talent pipeline and ensuring that our policy and regulatory frameworks support innovation responsibly.”
The Sarawak government is exploring forward-looking innovations such as AI Grid networks and the integration of satellite-enabled capabilities, reflecting a deliberate shift towards more advanced and scalable digital ecosystems.
“We are planning for the establishment of the Kuching AI data campus in Tanjung Embang as a catalyst for Sarawak’s future AI Grid ecosystem.
“A 405 ha site has been identified, which will be equipped with dedicated energy and water supplies to support data centre operations, AI computing and digital inter-connectivity nodes.
“The project will be implemented through a PPP approach, beginning with an initial phase covering 120 ha,” he further added.
Abang Johari said his recent official working visit to the United Kingdom and Ireland had opened new avenues to advance the Sarawak AI vision.
During the visit, the Sarawak delegation toured the K2 Strategic Data Centre Campus in Dublin, one of Europe’s leading hyperscale digital infrastructures.
The tour, he said, provided valuable insights into the scale, integration and future-readiness of digital facilities and had further inspired the model Sarawak wants to develop.
“According to the Harvard Business Review, the future economy will be increasingly shaped by AI, automation and continuous technological adaptation.
“By 2030, more occupations are expected to be augmented by AI – driving higher productivity, more efficient decision-making and the emergence of new industries.”
“This reinforces the urgent need for Sarawak to increase investments in our digital ecosystem.
“Sarawak’s approach to AI advancement is guided by four key pillars: infrastructure, technology, talent and policy.”
The Premier disclosed that the state government is targeting the launch of Sarawak’s first nanosatellite by 2030 through CubeSat-based technology, which involves the use of small satellites for real-time data and earth observation.
“Sarawak will have the capability to develop its own satellite system to obtain earth imagery, geolocation data and strategic information for planning, environmental monitoring and resource management.”
Touching on Sarawak’s clean energy transition, Abang Johari said this transition is anchored on a strong renewable base, as about 61% of Sarawak Energy Bhd’s installed capacity is now from renewable sources, especially hydro.
“With the Baleh hydroelectric plant (under advanced construction) and upcoming large-scale solar and low-carbon sources, we are expanding our supply capacity from 5.9 gigawatts (GW) to 10GW by 2030.
“Today energy has become a strategic requirement for economic development.
“Energy supply is essential not only to support industries and attract investments but also to enhance Sarawak’s long-term economic competitiveness,” he said.
The Baleh hydroelectric dam in the upper Rajang Basin in central Sarawak has a designed generating capacity of 1,285 megawatts.
