@Green September/October 2023 | Page 20

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@ green | SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER . 2023
BY SHEILA ROZARIO

SARAWAK ’ S commitment to a sustainable energy future shines brightly as Premier Tan Sri Abang Zohari Openg shares his regional vision , “ We are all in this together , and we must all work together ”.

The Sarawak Renewable Energy Forum ( SAREF ), the core of this vision , brought experts from Southeast Asia together to discuss renewables and energy transition .
The Premier expressed : “ We are very proud that Sarawak Energy was the first company in Malaysia to launch Renewable Energy Certificates ( RECs ) at the inaugural SAREF in 2019 .”
Since then , the reception has been encouraging , with approximately 1.8 million RECs being sold or committed as of December 2022 . SAREF catalyses change .
The Premier emphasised to reach a wider audience : “ The discussions held in Kuching will be amplified by the presence of local , national , and regional media to ensure our messages reach the audiences .”
The Premier shed light on Sarawak ’ s diverse and resourcerich landscape , with a population comprising 27 ethnic groups and an official language “ diversity of people ”. The region boasts a substantial forest cover , accounting for 42.4 per cent of the total land area .
Highlighting Sarawak ’ s history of energy development , Zohari added : “ Our history of energy development goes back over one hundred years .”
He narrated how Sarawak began upstream petroleum production in 1910 and established Sarawak Energy in 1921 .

Vision for a sustainable energy future

Premier Zohari announces development of Sarawak ’ s first floating solar farm at the Batang Ai HEP
Tan Sri Abang Zohari Openg
“ Our coal-fired power plants also use local coal ,” he added , highlighting their commitment to no new coal power plants .
Recognising the finite nature of fossil fuels , Sarawak looked to more sustainable natural resources , particularly hydropower . A study commissioned in the 1960s revealed 20,000MW of identified hydro potential .
“ Hydropower has also allowed us to reduce the carbon emission intensity of our power system by
73 per cent between 2010 and 2021 – contributing to our net zero and sustainability commitments .
“ Today , the region has transitioned to renewables , with almost 3,500MW of renewable energy generated from projects like the Murum and Bakun Dams and Batang Ai Hydroelectric Plant .”
The Premier indicated further plans were also in place to develop more hydropower capacity , such as the 1,285MW hydroelectric project in Baleh , slated for completion by the decade ’ s end .
Sarawak ’ s sustainable energy journey also embraces other renewables like solar , wind , and biomass . Zohari said as technology advanced , Sarawak would explore wind and biomass as more mainstream energy sources .
The Premier announced the development of Sarawak ’ s first floating solar farm at the Batang Ai HEP , which is expected to offset around 52 kilo tonnes of carbon emissions annually .
The Premier further highlighted Sarawak ’ s commitment to environmental sustainability through projects like the CHITOSE Carbon Capture Central Sarawak , an industrial microalgae production facility to minimise carbon emissions .

Support for renewable initiatives

BY DANIAL FAUZI
THE CURRENT trends of renewable and alternative energy sources are the talk of many organisations that wish to dip their toes in the effort to create a more sustainable energy future whilst also delivering on the other promises of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals ( UNSDGs ) by 2030 .
The Sustainability & Renewable Energy Forum ( SAREF ) 3.0 was one such forum that provided a platform for experts , panellists and speakers from across the industry in Southeast Asia to share their experiences and views concerning the renewable energy landscape .
SAREF 3.0 was held at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching ( BCCK ) Kuching , Sarawak . The forum is an umbrella for topics such as ESG financing , the interconnectedness of public policy and energy strategies , diversity and renewable energy transition .
During the forum , Utility and Telecommunication Minister Datuk Julaihi Narawi stressed that additional support was needed to accelerate the progress of renewable energy initiatives in Sarawak .
“ SAREF 3.0 will culminate with the Energy Leaders Forum , where key figures from the region ’ s national energy landscape came together to discuss the way forward – sharing strategies , plans , and insights on what it takes to deliver an accelerated and just energy transition towards achieving net zero and cultivating sustainable communities across Southeast Asia ,” expressed Julaihi during the SAREF 3.0 .
As the need to transition to renewable energy is paramount to a sustainable future , experts and organisations worldwide must reach a consensus to tackle climate change and make changes for the better .
RENEWABLE POTENTIAL
The energy transition in Sarawak has been steadily growing over the past few years , with many of the renewable alternatives owed to the bountiful natural resources in the country , such as lakes and rivers and sunshine all year round , contributing to the generation of hydropower and solar power .
“ As my ministry ’ s implementing agency , Sarawak Energy has been vital in supporting our initiatives and programmes – working closely with
us to deliver important benefits to Sarawak and its people ,” said Julaihi .
“ This has included progressing rural electrification efforts under Projek Rakyat to close the gap between urban and rural communities by providing the latter with a stable , reliable and affordable supply of 24-hour electricity – promoting socio-economic growth in these remote communities .”
This project is also on track with the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication ’ s commitment to electrifying Sarawak by 2025 . This commitment is anchored by the ministry ’ s significant investments in renewable hydropower development .
The development of renewable hydropower also catalyses the ministry to pursue interconnections within the region .
Julaihi also stated that Sarawak has the potential to become the battery of ASEAN , sharing the benefits of their renewable energy sources with their Southeast Asian neighbours through an interconnected power grid .
“ Aligned with this belief , we will continue to explore opportunities for interconnections in the region , contributing to an accelerated energy transition for us all ,” Julaihi added .
Datuk Julaihi Narawi
“ The progress we have made to this point emphasises the importance of partnerships as we continue to work achieving our sustainability goals and commitments .”
In addition , Julaihi also added during the conference that the banking sector plays a vital role in advancing sustainable energy solutions , calling for concrete support to propel these renewable initiatives forward .
“ The Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication is proud to support such an important regional conference right here in Kuching ,” Julaihi expressed .
“ And of course , when we give our support , we hope there will be a complete direction among public policy and decision-makers soon , and total and concrete support from the banking sector .”