KUCHING: Sarawak is open to exploring fusion energy as a potential clean power source, provided that it is proven safe and economically viable.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said fusion energy, which involves hydrogen-based molecular reactions, could be the future of clean energy if current experiments around the world yield positive results.
“I read about fusion technology, and just now I met someone who is an expert in it. If this fusion energy is safe, and if the economy is there, then for Sarawak, we can also produce fusion technology.
“But this is new. Let them do the experiment, and we see the numbers,” he said during a dialogue session at the International Energy Week (IEW) 2025, themed ‘From Sarawak to the World: Journey to Clean Energy Leadership’ at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today (Jul 15).
Abang Johari said Sarawak has the resources and the right policies to adapt to emerging technologies in the clean energy sector.
He stressed that the state government’s move toward clean energy was not driven by the desire to undertake projects, but by the urgent need to address environmental concerns caused by carbon emissions.
Citing extreme weather events worldwide, including floods in Texas and heatwaves in China, India and Pakistan, he said climate change is real and can no longer be ignored.
“Clean energy is something that will protect and conserve the environment. We want to get rid of carbon in the atmosphere. And carbon is the culprit of what’s happening today.
“In our region, you cannot even predict when it’s monsoon or not. The whole climate is haywire now. So you have to find a solution to that,” he said.
He pointed out that some major countries still resist acknowledging the effects of climate change due to their heavy dependence on fossil fuels.
“That’s why Sarawak has a Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability, and we have a sustainability blueprint up to 2030 aligned to environmental, social and governance (ESG) and the United Nations’ goals,” he added.
Abang Johari asserted the global shift away from coal and fossil fuels means countries must find practical alternatives, and Sarawak’s policy framework is already being calibrated in that direction.
He also shared his views on nuclear energy, stating that while some countries are opting for it, it remains expensive and poses unresolved safety concerns.
