Energy to be mainstay of state’s economy

LONDON: Sarawak’s focus on green and renewable energy would make the energy sector the mainstay of the state’s economy by 2030 and beyond.
 
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the development of all other sectors was consequent upon the growth of the energy industry.
 
He said this during his opening address during a meeting with top Shell officials at the Shell headquarters in the British capital here today.
 
The Premier, who is leading a delegation to Sweden, Norway, and the United Kingdom (UK), flew in here yesterday evening from Oslo to wrap up a weeklong working visit aimed at studying Sweden’s Ombudsman policy, the carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiative and policy of Norway and the UK, as well as the renewable energy industry of these countries.
 
The Premier called on Shell, which has a long history in the oil and gas industry in Sarawak, to continue to become the state’s partner in the development of its oil and gas resources, including CCS.
 
He also paid tribute to Shell, which had played a significant role in Sarawak’s economic development since oil was first drilled in 1910 in Miri.
 
Accompanying the Premier were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, who is also Minister for International Trade and Investment; Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Dr Hazland Abang Hipni; State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohd Abu Bakar Marzuki; as well as heads of government departments and government-linked companies (GLCs).
 
Earlier, the arrival of Premier and members of his delegation at the premises was welcomed by Shell executive vice president (EVP) Conventional Oil and Gas Peter Costello, Shell EVP Exploration Marc Gerrits, Country Chair Shell Malaysia Siti Sulaiman, and general manager for Corporate Relations East Malaysia Jonathan Jolly.
 
In a separate development, during a meeting with officials of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) earlier in the morning, the Premier said that Sarawak would make the UK a model in formulating Sarawak’s net-zero policy.