BY GEORGETTE TAN

WITH CLIMATE Change being a global concern , Sarawak Energy remains firmly committed to delivering sustainable and clean energy through renewable hydropower and dialling down their emission in line with the Paris Agreement .

“ Sustainability is key to maintaining our social license to operate and right to grow ,” said James Ung , CEO of SEB Power , the generation arm of Sarawak Energy .

He told @ greenXtra that they were focused on achieving balanced energy development to drive sustainable socio-economic transformation . It is a holistic view which balances energy Security , Sustainability and Affordability .

“ We have always been focused on delivering a sustainable future for Sarawak by securing and providing renewable energy to accelerate growth . Since our venture into hydropower development , the benefits accrued have been very encouraging ,” Ung said .

In line with their Borneo Power Grid ambition , Sarawak Energy currently has a Power Exchange Agreement with West Kalimantan and is pursuing interconnections with the region ’ s neighbours .

Hydropower , given it offers the

lowest Levelised Cost of Energy or LCOE , has also enabled Sarawak to provide among the most competitive unsubsidised tariffs in Southeast Asia , attracting significant investments from power-intensive industries to Sarawak ’ s shore , benefitting the people and State .

Sarawak Energy remains firmly committed to renewable hydropower development while progressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals ( UNSDGs ) for a sustainable energy future .

Sarawak Energy has been a sustainability partner and platinum member of the International Hydropower Association since 2010 and an early adopter of the association ’ s Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol ( HSAP ) guidelines .

The protocol ensures best practices in its hydropower development and operations , including social issues related to project-affected communities .

Ung added they were embedding sustainability practices in their business and operations .

“ Sarawak Energy also has an internal Sustainability Division that assesses our hydropower development and operations to improve sustainability strategies and performance .”

As part of the company ’ s commitment to transparency , Sarawak Energy ’ s overall corporate sustainability performance is also disclosed via its Annual & Sustainability Report , guided by Global Reporting Initiative ( GRI ) Standard .

“ While hydropower has opened up the rural areas , spurring infrastructure development and economic opportunities , at the same time , the development of hydropower in Sarawak is based on sustainability principles , and a key focus is the effective conservation of the surrounding rainforest and its rejuvenation ,” he added .

Sarawak ’ s first hydropower plant , Batang Ai , facilitated in the establishment of the Batang Ai National Park in 1989 . The national park , which is within the HEP ’ s catchment area , is one of the world ’ s leading locations for wild Orangutan conservation and research .

The park and catchment area also protects part of the Lanjak- Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary in Sarawak and the Bentung-Kerihun National Park in Indonesia , a trans-

James Ung

boundary conservation zone crucial to the future survival of the Bornean orangutan .

These conservation efforts have made Batang Ai a preferred destination for low-impact ecotourism and rainforest research .

Similarly , these initiatives are being pursued for the islands on Bakun lake and the Baleh Hydroelectric Project , which is expected to be completed in 2026 .

In 2019 , Sarawak Energy signed a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU ) with Sarawak ’ s Forest Department to collaborate on the Baleh Watershed Wildlife Connectivity Project for research and data gathering to conserve and protect the Baleh catchment area and its ecosystem .

This three-year project is part of Sarawak Energy ’ s integrated catchment management initiative