KUCHING: Sarawak is working towards realising its ambition to be a renewable energy powerhouse of ASEAN, which requires consistent and purposeful collaborations across the public and private spheres.
Sarawak Energy Group Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Sharbini Suhaili said partnerships are key to addressing the energy trilemma and achieving their sustainability goals at the regional level so everyone can work together towards a shared prosperity for ASEAN.
“We are also sharing the benefits of renewable hydropower with neighbours through power exchange agreements – working towards realising the Borneo and ASEAN grids for energy security at the regional level,” he said at the recently concluded hybrid ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF) held in conjunction with the 40th ASEAN Ministers On Energy Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Joining virtually, Sharbini shared Sarawak Energy’s experience in renewable hydropower development and how this has addressed Sarawak’s energy trilemma to ensure energy security, sustainability and affordability. Sarawak Energy’s customers enjoy the lowest average tariffs in Malaysia and amongst the most competitive unsubsidised tariffs in the region.
He acknowledged that developments in the energy sector were strongly driven by sustainability, with a strong focus on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG).
He emphasised that climate change, environmental challenges, technological innovation as well as policies and regulations are key considerations for any responsible energy developer.
Sharbini also shared that the Sarawak Government’s Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 identified the renewable energy sector as a key pillar for accelerated, sustainable economic growth to achieve Sarawak’s developed status by 2030.
His live session followed a keynote address he delivered on the first day of the forum on “Hydropower in the Energy Transition: Powering Sarawak and Beyond”.
Also speaking at the forum from Sarawak Energy were Ting Ching Zung, Executive Vice President for Strategy and Corporate Development in the Renewables Leaders Panel: Unpacking ASEAN’s RE Potentials to Accelerate Energy Transition as well as Mohd Irwan Aman, Head of Sustainability who participated in the Global Leaders Panel: The Age of Power Transformation and Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage: Practical Approaches to ASEAN’s Energy Transition Pathways.
Sarawak Energy was amongst policy makers and global energy industry business leaders sharing experiences, discussing strategies and actionable commitments to help the regional energy future – of a high-level Ministers-CEOs Dialogue of the forum themed ‘Accelerating Energy Transition – Economic Recovery & Sustainable Growth’.
Also in the strategic dialogue session were Dr Nuki Agya Utama, Executive Director of ASEAN Centre for Energy; H.E Victor Jona, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Mines and Energy Cambodia; Abdul Razib Dawood, Chief Executive Officer, Energy Commission, Malaysia; Chris Humprey, Executive Director, EU- ASEAN Business Council; Dr. Sama Bilbao Y Leon, DirectorGeneral, World Nuclear Association among others.
