KUCHING: Sarawak is poised to become the “next Saudi Arabia” by harnessing its vast natural resources, says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Citing the state’s abundance of rivers, Abang Johari said Sarawak holds a strategic advantage as its rivers are not shared with other regions — unlike Europe’s Rhine, or the Mekong and Nile rivers which flow across several countries.
“If one country controls a shared river, others will be affected. But Sarawak doesn’t share its rivers — and we have many.
“With many rivers, you have water. With new technology, water can be filtered and purified. Once the water reaches the required standard, it can be used to produce hydrogen,” he explained in his keynote address at the Sarawak Corporate Leadership Summit 2025 held at Damai Lagoon Resort here today.
He said hydrogen production would enable Sarawak to control the regional clean energy economy.
“Once you have hydrogen, you produce clean and renewable energy,” he added.
Abang Johari added that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim acknowledged Sarawak’s leading role in renewable energy development, a key factor in the state’s inclusion in the ASEAN Power Grid initiative.
“Sarawak is already supplying electricity to West Kalimantan. During the last bilateral meeting between the Prime Minister and President Prabowo, Indonesia requested that we increase supply to Badau and Sipinggan,” he said.
He mentioned that Sarawak has also signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Brunei to supply power, making Sarawak the key energy producer for both Brunei and Malaysia.
“We are also preparing to supply 400 MW to Sabah,” he said.
By 2030, he said Sarawak’s installed power generation capacity is expected to reach 10 gigawatts (GW), of which the state currently requires only 7 GW, leaving a surplus for regional partners. By 2035, the state aims to produce 15 GW.
“With greater energy capacity, we can control tariffs. If our energy tariffs remain competitive, investors will come to Sarawak because affordable energy reduces production costs,” Abang Johari said.
He added that such growth would create more employment opportunities and require the government to adapt its economic management strategies to sustain the state’s development.
