Sarawak set to be major regional energy supplier

KUCHING: Sarawak is positioning itself to become a major regional energy supplier through the development of the Borneo Grid and wider ASEAN electricity interconnections.

Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the Borneo Grid was gaining momentum, with Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) already supplying electricity to Kalimantan, Indonesia, while the interconnection with Sabah had been realised.

He said Sarawak was also discussing with Kalimantan and Brunei Darussalam on further developing the Borneo Grid, which could eventually support wider participation in the ASEAN Power Grid.

“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has discussed with us the possibility of region-wide interconnection across ASEAN, particularly in the southern sector.

“There are other segments from Laos to Thailand, through Thailand to Singapore, and we are ready to be connected to Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia,” he said.

He said this at an appreciation dinner on Wednesday (Oct 7) for Sarawak Energy Group chief executive officer Datuk Sharbini Suhaili, who will retire on Oct 31.

Abang Johari said the development of the interconnection network was important as electricity could be traded as a cross-border commodity, creating new revenue streams for Sarawak.

He said Sarawak’s ability to supply energy to regional markets could also attract high-quality investments and generate high-skilled, high-paying jobs.

“If we become an energy supplier, we can attract high-quality investments that generate high-quality, high-paying jobs. At the same time, we have a revenue stream from the interconnection,” he added.

He said Sarawak’s strategic location at the heart of ASEAN further strengthened its potential to play a bigger role in regional energy trade.

The initiative supports Sarawak’s target of raising its energy generation capacity to 10 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 and 15 GW by 2035, with surplus capacity potentially supplied to external markets.