KUCHING: Sarawak’s own experience demonstrates that energy transition can deliver security and sustainability while also advancing equity and shared prosperity when pursued in partnership.
Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, said that beyond technology, the energy transition must ensure that clean energy supports the broad-based prosperity and not only economic growth.
“In Sarawak, we are aligning our policies with these principles.
“The Sarawak Energy Transition Policy provides the framework to decarbonise our energy systems while supporting economic growth and social inclusion.
“These objectives are ambitious, and achieving them will require sustained effort, investment and collaboration,” he said.
He said this in his keynote address during ‘Session 1: Powering Sustainable Growth – A Just, Inclusive and Equitable Energy Transition’ at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today.
He added that Sarawak’s energy transition combines hydropower, floating solar, and biomass initiatives while expanding electricity access to rural and off-grid communities and exporting power to neighbouring regions.
However, across Southeast Asia, renewable energy adoption remains uneven, with renewables accounting for only 26 per cent of ASEAN’s electricity in 2024, below the global average.
Dr Hazland said that the challenge lies not in ambition but in implementation, pointing to barriers such as financing, permitting, grid readiness and regulatory alignment.
Hence, he stressed that regional collaboration is vital through initiatives such as the ASEAN Power Grid, harmonised standards and joint procurement to cut costs and strengthen cross-border energy security.
Equally important, he said, is ensuring a just transition that provides re-skilling opportunities, social support and inclusive decision-making for communities dependent on fossil fuels.
“In Sarawak, our focus is on building a future-ready workforce, engaging local communities and expanding access to financing so that the benefits of the transition are more readily shared.
“Recently, our Premier outlined Sarawak’s consideration of a blended finance facility to accelerate catalytic infrastructure and transition-aligned investments by leveraging public capital to crowd in private and development finance.
“The facility would help de-risk and scale high-impact projects that may not yet be commercially viable, including clean hydrogen, CCUS and low-carbon transport,” he said.
He added that multilateral development banks, such as the Asian Development Bank, have already demonstrated the value of blended finance by catalysing nearly USD10 billion in sustainable projects across Southeast Asia.
“These examples show the scale of opportunity that can be unlocked through collaboration and innovation.
“Community-led initiatives are usually important, from micro-hydro systems in Indonesia to solar micro-grids in the Philippines.
“These projects illustrate that energy transition is not just a top-down process but a shared responsibility,” he said.
He said that in Sarawak, similar community-scale initiatives are explored, recognising how essential local ownership and participation are to long-term success.
“Sarawak is taking practical steps in this direction, through policy frameworks like the Sarawak Energy Transition Policy, targeted investments in renewable energy and programmes to upskill the workforce, ensuring that communities are supported and opportunities are broadly shared.
“We also recognise that no single state or organisation can achieve this alone. Collaboration across governments, industries, financial institutions, civil society and local communities is essential.
“By working together, we can advance projects in hydropower, solar, hydrogen, low-carbon transport and carbon markets that are not only technically feasible but also socially responsible and regionally beneficial,” he said.
Dr Hazland added that the energy transition is not just about technology or power sources, but an opportunity to support growth, strengthen communities and build resilience across Southeast Asia, with Sarawak seeking to contribute in a fair and sustainable way.
“Initiatives like SAREF provide an important platform for this exchange and I hope delegates will not only leave with new knowledge but also inspiration to advance the transition in their own context,” he said.
