KUCHING: Sarawak is emerging as an “electro-petro state” by leveraging its petroleum resources alongside renewable energy development and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to build a sustainable and resilient economy.
Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Sarawak Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni said the state’s progress reflected its success in implementing a Greenomics-driven economic model under the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
“The strategy focuses on three core pillars; environmental sustainability, economic prosperity and social inclusivity which guide Sarawak’s efforts towards clean energy development and digital transformation,” he said.
He said this in his speech when officiating at the Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) Finance, Economics and Business Sustainability Conference at The Waterfront hotel here today.
“Sarawak is not only a petroleum-producing state, but also an energy-producing state through various sources including hydropower, solar energy, synthetic fuels, methanol, hydrogen, biomass, and carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) technology,” he said.
He added that the state government, through his ministry, has developed four key frameworks covering regulatory, technical, financial and human capital development aspects to accelerate the implementation of green energy initiatives.
“These frameworks are essential to ensure Sarawak’s energy transition is supported by strong governance, technical expertise, investment capacity and skilled manpower,” he said.
On digital advancement, Dr Hazland said Sarawak is strengthening its role as a regional digital economy hub through the development of data centres powered by renewable energy.
However, he said the state is also exploring AI grid systems as a more sustainable alternative due to their potential to reduce environmental, economic and social impacts compared with conventional data centre models.
“AI grid systems enable users to access AI capabilities through token-based platforms, offering a more efficient and sustainable approach to AI adoption,” he said.
He added that the integration of energy resources, digital technology and AI would further strengthen Sarawak’s position as a leading player in sustainable economic development.
