New Sarawak Ministry to drive green energy, sustainable development

KUCHING: Sarawak is embarking on a green energy agenda for sustainable development and to address climate change.

Chief Minister Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state government had set up the new Energy and Environmental Sustainability Ministry towards this end.

"With this ministry, we hope to coordinate and give direction to the development of green, renewable energy and participate in the world issue of climate change.

"This is a pertinent issue and we hope to contribute to the needs of the world and mitigate carbon emissions," he said at Sarawak Energy Bhd's (SEB) centenary townhall at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching on Monday (Feb 21).

Abang Johari said the green energy agenda would drive sustainable energy transition to power various economic sectors in the state.

It will also make the transport sector greener and enable the state's digital economy, he said.

"We want to build a good future for our next generation.

"As such, sustainability is key to Sarawak’s development and we make sure that we maximise the positive impact and minimise the negative impact of everything we do while continuously creating value to all our stakeholders and people of Sarawak," he said.

Abang Johari also said Sarawak aimed to become Southeast Asia's powerhouse by providing affordable, reliable and renewable energy to the region.

He noted the state had been exporting mostly renewable energy to West Kalimantan since 2016 and would start power export to Sabah soon.

"We eventually aim to materialise the Borneo Grid and become the battery of Asean.

"I am confident that we can achieve these targets given our abundant renewable hydropower and natural resources," he said.

Earlier, SEB group chief executive Datuk Sharbini Suhaili said the company aimed to increase the share of renewable and alternative energy in its generation mix.

By 2030, he said, SEB planned to add about 5% solar energy into its generation mix.

"We are embarking on our first floating solar farm at the Batang Ai hydropower plant, leveraging on the reservoir's existing water body.

"Once commissioned, the 50MW solar farm will offset around 52 kilotonnes of carbon emissions annually," he said.

SEB started as an electrical section within the Public Works Department in 1921 to become the state's energy development company today.

It turned 100 last year but the celebration was deferred due to Covid-19 restrictions.