@ green | May-June . 2024

Sarawak ’ s drive towards a green economy aligns with the global transition

Highlighting Sarawak ’ s abundant natural resources capable of generating renewable energy , Abang Johari emphasised the government ’ s proactive approach in seeking innovative solutions through cutting-edge technology to enhance the value of these resources .

Addressing the Press conference following his keynote speech at the Future Energy Asia Strategic Summit 2024 , Abang Johari emphasised the importance of translating vision into action , stating that execution is paramount for achieving tangible results .

According to Abang Johari , Sarawak ’ s drive towards a green economy aligns with the global transition from coal and fossil fuels to clean and sustainable energy sources .

He emphasised the State ’ s ability to manage its economy sustainably while integrating the latest technologies , focusing on clean energy initiatives .

With 70 per cent of its energy generation derived from hydropower , supplemented by a small percentage of natural gas and coal earmarked for phase-out , Sarawak is already ahead of the curve towards achieving carbon

Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg

negativity well before the 2050 net zero target .

Abang Johari emphasised Sarawak ’ s willingness to share its success with the world , inviting collaboration for technological partnerships . Additionally , Sarawak has emerged as a pivotal player in regional energy interconnection efforts , particularly in supporting the Asean Power Grid .

Through Sarawak Energy Berhad ( SEB ), Sarawak is actively supplying energy to neighbouring Indonesia , Singapore , and Brunei , thus facilitating economic growth and job creation in the region .

Sarawak ’ s proactive stance toward renewable energy underscores its commitment to environmental sustainability and positions the State as a leader in the global transition towards a cleaner , greener future .

This article showcases Sarawak ’ s pivotal role in shaping the renewable energy landscape , highlighting its efforts to drive sustainable development while fostering international cooperation and technological innovation .

SARAWAK Energy debuted as a Patron of the World Energy Council at the 26th World Energy Congress , a global energy event attended by international energy stakeholders .

Themed ‘ Redesigning Energy for People and Planet ’, the four-day event was co-hosted by the World Energy Council and the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy . It convened around 200 C-suite speakers and 70 ministers alongside 7,000 international energy stakeholders from the Council ’ s global network of over 3,000 member organisations in more than 100 countries .

Sarawak Energy Group Chief Executive Officer Datuk Sharbini Suhaili spoke in a plenary session entitled ‘ Building Resilience Together in Asia Pacific : A New Outlook on Energy-Climate Cooperations ’, where he emphasised the criticality of interconnections in ASEAN ’ s energy transition , so resource-rich countries could harness renewables such as hydropower and share their surplus capacity with neighbours with high energy demand .

“ Interconnections and crossborder collaborations are vital to getting the ASEAN region member states to adapt and transition justly together . Each member state must capitalise on their resources and share with neighbours , and only then can we materialise the trans-ASEAN power grid .”

Emphasising interconnections as a key towards securing transition pathways in ASEAN , Sharbini said that with cross-border interconnections undertaken under business-to-business arrangements , government-to-government engagements were still necessary and suggested that policymakers could

World Energy Council Secretary- General and CEO Dr Angela Wilkinson and Sharbini with the Patronship Programme Agreement .

help to simplify the process .

“ We need a spirit of collaboration to address the energy trilemma for the ASEAN region through interconnections . There can be no transition without transmission .”

Sharbini was speaking alongside panellists Ramesh Subramaniam ( Director General & Group Chief , Sectors Group , Asian Development Bank ), Srikant Nagulapalli ( Additional Secretary , Ministry of Power , Government of India ), Riki Kojima ( Member of the Board , Executive Vice President , Chief Innovation Officer , TEPCO ) and Tina Schirr ( Executive Director , BusinessNZ Energy Council ).

John Defterios , the former Emerging Markets Editor of CNN and Professor of Business , NYU Abu Dhabi , moderated the session .

Sharbini also had a seat at the World Energy Leaders ’ Dialogue : Ministerial Roundtable and the CEO Roundtable , which were close-door dialogues involving Ministries and top leadership in the energy sector .

INVESTSARAWAK , Toyo Engineering Corporation , and its subsidiary Toyo Engineering & Construction Sdn Bhd have signed a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU ) to advance Sarawak ’ s energy transition agenda .

This partnership is poised to propel the State towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources , aligning with Toyo ’ s global energy transition strategies .

The MoU establishes a framework for collaboration , focusing on identifying and facilitating key investment projects essential to Sarawak ’ s energy transition initiatives . Toyo will provide crucial support in developing value chain planning services to realise these initiatives .

KEY FOCUS AREAS

The collaboration will target several energy projects integral to Sarawak ’ s government agenda :

• Green Hydrogen Projects : Developing hydrogen as a clean energy source .

• Carbon Capture and Storage ( CCS ): Implementing technologies to capture and store carbon emissions .

• Waste-to-Energy Projects : Converting waste into usable energy .

• Energy Storage Solutions : Including battery and pumped hydro storage to enhance energy reliability .

• Smart Grid Technology : Improving the efficiency and reliability of Sarawak ’ s electrical grid .

LEADERSHIP INSIGHTS

Timothy Ong , CEO of InvestSarawak , highlighted that this partnership underscores Sarawak ’ s commitment to sustainable energy sources , which is essential for the State ’ s economic and social progress .

Toyo Engineering Corporation ’ s Senior Executive Officer Casey Takeshi Matsumuro expressed enthusiasm for supporting Sarawak ’ s ambitious energy goals , leveraging Toyo ’ s expertise and technology to contribute to the region ’ s sustainable growth .

STRATEGIC GOALS

Under the Ministry of International Trade , Industry , and Investment , InvestSarawak is the primary platform

Ong ( centre ) with Matsumuro ( left ) and Zenko Tsutsui of Toyo Engineering & Construction

for attracting investments aligned with the State ’ s vision for sustainability and growth by 2030 .

Toyo , renowned for its engineering , procurement , construction , and technical services , brings extensive global experience and innovative technologies to this partnership .

With a significant presence in ammonia plants and storage tanks worldwide , Toyo is well-positioned to drive sustainable energy solutions in Sarawak .

ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES

The collaboration is expected to accelerate Sarawak ’ s transition to renewable energy and stimulate local employment and technological advancements .

This initiative marks a significant milestone in Sarawak ’ s economic landscape , contributing to the broader sustainable development goal and positioning the State as a leader in green energy solutions . – @ green