KUCHING: This year marks a historic milestone for Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) as the Batang Ai Hydroelectric Plant (HEP) celebrates its 40th anniversary.
Commissioned in 1985 as Sarawak’s first hydroelectric project, Batang Ai was the State’s first major step into large-scale renewable energy.
Situated in Lubok Antu, Sri Aman Division, the plant was built at a time when Sarawak sought to strengthen energy security and reduce reliance on fossil fuels following the oil crisis of the 1970s.
Its commissioning laid the foundation for Sarawak’s modern energy system, becoming a cornerstone of electricity supply while introducing a new era of cleaner, renewable power for the State.
With an available capacity of 94 megawatts (MW), Batang Ai continues to supply renewable electricity to the State grid and surrounding communities.
From this first project, Sarawak has gone on to build some of the region’s largest hydropower plants such as Bakun, Murum, and the upcoming Baleh HEP, reinforcing its position as Malaysia’s largest renewable energy developer. Each of these projects builds upon the pioneering foundation set by Batang Ai.
Over the past four decades, the Batang Ai HEP has become more than just a power station. It has pioneered hydropower innovation, driven local development, and strengthened Sarawak’s reputation as a provider of clean, reliable and sustainable energy.
Today, the plant remains central to SEB’s growth and reflects the State’s long-term commitment to sustainability under the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 and the Sarawak Energy Transition Policy (SET-P).
The commissioning of the 50MW Batang Ai Floating Solar Farm in December 2024, Malaysia’s first major hybrid facility combining hydro and solar, and currently the largest of its kind, demonstrates how traditional infrastructure can evolve to support modern renewable technologies.
The facility integrates solar panels across the Batang Ai Reservoir, complementing the existing hydropower station and enhancing Sarawak’s renewable generation capacity.
Building on its success, the project paves the way for further large-scale solar development across Sarawak, including future floating and ground-mounted installations that will contribute towards the State’s renewable generation target of 10 gigawatts by 2030.
Beyond energy, the Batang Ai HEP has had a lasting and positive impact on the surrounding communities.
Over the past few decades, Lubok Antu district has experienced significant development, with better connectivity and improved road access, opening new opportunities for trade, travel and services that once were lacking.
Communities have ventured into modernised farming, transforming the local economy with better access to markets. Aquaculture has also flourished, with commercial rearing of tilapia and patin fish along the Batang Ai lakeshore, now reaching markets beyond Sarawak.
Education and youth development have also been priorities.
Since 2018, a RM300,000 revolving education fund has enabled students from host and upstream communities to pursue tertiary studies, improving socio-economic mobility across generations.
SEB also contributes RM7,000 annually to ten adopted schools in the area, while community engagement programmes preserve cultural heritage and foster social cohesion.
In recognition of these contributions, Batang Ai HEP was the recipient of the Gold Award at the 15th Annual Global CSR & ESG Summit in Vietnam in 2023.
The economic transformation has improved living standards and created sustainable livelihoods. Handicrafts, cultural traditions, and eco-tourism have grown alongside these opportunities, helping local traditions endure while providing meaningful livelihoods.
Equally important is Batang Ai’s environmental legacy.
The 120,000-hectare catchment area created by the reservoir has become one of Borneo’s most significant orangutan habitats, highlighting the plant’s unique role in biodiversity conservation.
Ongoing programmes, such as reservoir log-clearing and tree-planting under SEB’s 10-year ‘Integrated Tree Planting, Protection and Habitat Restoration Campaign’, further reinforce its environmental stewardship.
As Sarawak accelerates its renewable energy ambitions, Batang Ai will continue to integrate new technologies, expand community partnerships, and explore further floating solar opportunities.
Sustained investments in education, culture and biodiversity will ensure that its legacy continues to grow.
Four decades on, Batang Ai HEP continues to play an important role in Sarawak’s sustainable development, contributing to energy security, technological progress, and long-term community growth.
