KUCHING: The state is on track to achieve full electrification by 2025 through the Sarawak Accelerated Rural Electrification Masterplan.
Permanent secretary to the Ministry of Utilities Datuk Ir Alice Jawan Empaling believed the plan is achievable despite the challenges of a vast and mountainous terrain, long and winding rivers, and an urban to rural population ratio of 55 to 45 percent.
“In 2020, we achieved 98 percent overall domestic coverage and 95 percent rural coverage and are well on our way to achieve 100 percent electrification in Sarawak by the year 2025.
“This is in line with United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7 — to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all,” she said.
She was addressing delegates of regional energy industry players during her plenary session at the recently concluded 6th Power Week Asia International Conference, hosted virtually in Singapore from March 15 to 18.
Alice said Sarawak was on the way to achieving its electrification goals despite various challenges and also shared with the delegates, the state’s plans to grow as a renewable energy powerhouse for the region.
“As a result of our focus on renewable energy development and people-centric policies, Sarawak now enjoys the lowest average tariff in Malaysia for its residential, commercial, and industrial customers,” she added.
She also shared Sarawak’s ambition to build a sustainable energy future in line with UN’s SDG 13 — take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
“As part of Sarawak’s green energy agenda, the state government has decided to spearhead research into hydrogen production and its application.
“The Ministry of Utilities together with Sarawak Energy jointly organised the first Sustainability and Renewable Energy Forum in 2019 to drive discourse at the regional level in South East Asia,” said Alice.
She said Sarawak’s first Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) was launched at the event to allow greater participation from corporations in a more sustainable energy future, to encourage sourcing of electricity from renewable sources and boost renewable energy uptake and integration.
The Ministry of Utilities and Sarawak Energy, the state’s primary power provider and developer, work to ensure the availability of adequate, reliable, efficient, affordable, and safe supply of electricity in a sustainable manner while helping to spur economic growth with an equitable and efficient tariff structure that meets cost of supply.
Power Week Asia is an international conference and summit for the electric power and energy sector which provides expert views, valuable take-away, and insights on the energy industry’s outlook and it serves as a networking platform.
