BANGKOK: Sarawak is positioning itself as the clean energy powerhouse of Southern ASEAN, with plans to generate up to 15 gigawatts (GW) of electricity by 2035 and export surplus renewable power to neighbouring countries.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg unveiled the ambitious regional energy vision during a fireside chat moderated by Channel NewsAsia (CAN) busniess news presenter Roland Lim at Gastech 2026, saying the state’s long-term strategy is to become the region’s leading supplier of sustainable electricity while driving economic growth through decarbonisation.
He said Sarawak is on track to produce about 10GW of electricity by 2030, increasing to 15GW by 2035 based on the available resources that it has today, while domestic consumption is expected to remain between 6GW and 7GW, creating substantial capacity for export.
“This surplus will be part of our effort to establish the ASEAN power grid,” he said, adding that Sarawak is already in discussions to supply 1GW of electricity to Singapore through an undersea cable.
The state has also been supplying electricity to Indonesia’s Kalimantan for the past four years, while power exports to Brunei Darussalam are targeted to begin by 2028.
Abang Johari said the biggest challenge in realising the ASEAN Power Grid is not financing, but establishing a common regulatory framework among member states.
He suggested ASEAN adopt a model similar to the European Union’s interconnected electricity market, where cross-border power trading operates under shared rules and market-based pricing.
“Once you have a common understanding and platform, then you can execute the realisation of the ASEAN power grid.”
He said Sarawak’s energy strategy demonstrates that economic development and environmental sustainability can advance together.
He noted that about 60 per cent of the state’s energy mix comes from hydropower, complemented by biomass, solar energy and natural gas, enabling Sarawak to maintain one of the region’s lowest-carbon electricity systems.
He also highlighted Bintulu’s recognition by the World Economic Forum as a low-carbon industrial cluster, saying green-financed industries are increasingly choosing the city as an investment destination.
Looking ahead, Abang Johari said Sarawak’s aspiration extends beyond producing clean energy.
“By 2030, I want Sarawak to be known as the energy supplier for ASEAN,” he said, describing regional energy sharing as the key to a more sustainable and interconnected future for Southeast Asia.
Earlier, Premier attended a closed-door Ministerial Roundtable at Gastech 2026 at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (BITEC), in which the high-level session brought together about 30 ministers and senior energy leaders from around the world, alongside chief executives of leading oil and gas companies.
