KUCHING: Sarawak is preparing to boost electricity exports to West Kalimantan as part of its contribution to the ASEAN Power Grid initiative.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state has been supplying power to the Indonesian province since 2016, with discussions now underway to raise the volume.
He said this effort reflects Sarawak’s broader commitment to regional cooperation under Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship this year.
“In terms of renewable energy, we have been identified by our Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) to contribute to the Asean Power Grid.
“At the moment, we are supplying power to Indonesia and Sabah. We are also working with Brunei, Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia,” he said.
Abang Johari said this at the opening ceremony of the 33rd ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council Meeting here today.
He said Sarawak is scaling up production to meet growing demand, with consumption expected to reach 10 gigawatt (GW) by 2030 and 15GW by 2035.
The energy mix, he said, includes hydropower, solar and hydrogen, which also fuels the state’s Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system.
“And perhaps this is one of the areas where I believe ASEAN is looking into,” he added.
On the same note, he asserted that Sarawak’s development strategy also emphasises environmental protection.
He pointed out that over five million hectares of land have been gazetted as permanent forest, with additional areas under parks and nature reserves.
“Talking about the environment, we have to protect it. We cannot disturb this. We want to protect and share it with the world,” he said.
Abang Johari shared that the Mulu and Niah national parks are recognised UNESCO sites, while Kuching has been declared a geopark.
“We are preserving this for future generations,” he added.
