Sarawak Leading Player In Renewables For Asean: Premier

SINGAPORE / 25/10/2022

SINGAPORE, Tues: As Malaysia’s largest renewable energy provider, Sarawak can play a key role in accelerating the region’s energy transition by working together with her neighbours through the sharing of resources, the Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Zohari bin Tun Abang Haji Openg.

Sarawak had immense hydropower potential in the Asean region with initial studies capping the State’s  estimated capacity at 20,000MW (20 GW), he said in a keynote address at the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW). 

The Premier pointed out that energy resilience and sustainability was a long term, mutual objective that required cross-country, multi-industrial collaboration. 

“Sarawak is uniquely positioned to do so in the ASEAN region,” he said. 

He said further studies had narrowed down the most prospective hydropower sites to 12 locations with a potential of 8,000MW with existing installed capacity at 3,452MW with another 1,285MW due to be commissioned by 2027. 

He told the audience that Sarawak’s power generation mix had successfully transitioned from 92% fossil fuels in 2010 to 70% hydropower by 2015, complemented by thermal resources for energy security.

This shift had decarbonised Sarawak’s grid emission intensity by 72% between 2010 and 2020 and continued to drive the State’s sustainable socio-economic growth in the present day.

“Our renewable hydropower will be among the main engines for achieving the climate goal of a transition from carbon-dioxide-producing electricity generation to carbon-free generation,” he pointed out. 

The lower levelized cost of energy from renewable hydropower also benefits Sarawak’s domestic, industrial, and export customers by supplying them with affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity – in fact, the most competitive in the region, he added. 

“Through our wholly state-owned utilities company Sarawak Energy, I am proud to say that Sarawak currently offers the lowest average unsubsidised tariffs in Southeast Asia and our electricity is primarily green.

Accompanying the Premier were Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Haji  Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, State Secretary, Datuk Amar Haji Mohamad Abu Bakar bin Marzuki and Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Dr. Hazlan Abg Hipni.

Sumber dari : Sarawakku