BALI: Sarawak is proud to play its role by spearheading a shared grid in Borneo as well as to work with Indonesia and Singapore to speed up the Asean Power Grid.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said interconnections are on one of the key mechanisms to achieve shared regional sustainability goals in this region with hydropower as the key renewable energy generation resource that will accelerate the Asean Power Grid.
“We are strong advocates for regional cooperation and the development of the Asean Power Grid. Sarawak’s first power exchange with our partners PLN in West Kalimantan in 2016 has demonstrated the shared benefits of interconnection, paving the way for other bilateral interconnection projects to advance the Borneo Grid.
“In 2021, we signed a power exchange agreement with Sabah Electricity that will trigger the export of power to our Malaysian neighbour by mid-2024. We are also working on a power exchange agreement with Brunei for electricity export,” he said.
He made these remarks in his speech at the opening of the 2023 World Hydropower Congress at the Nusa Dua Convention Centre here today.
Building upon this platform, Abang Johari said Sarawak has partnered with strong Indonesian partners, namely Adaro and Kayan Patria Pratama, to develop the 1,375MW Mentarang Induk Hydroelectric Project (MIHEP) in North Kalimantan.
He said the multibillion-dollar project is a joint effort to provide affordable, reliable and sustainable renewable energy to support Indonesia’s Green Industrial Park in North Kalimantan.
“Early works on MIHEP are well underway and the project is on track for first power by the end of this decade,” he said.
Guided by the International Hydropower Association’s (IHA) sustainability standards, Abang Johari said sustainable hydropower projects like MIHEP present a holistic approach to the most pressing challenges of this time.
“Sustainable hydropower projects offer a vital transition towards cleaner energy production, reduce carbon emissions, drive socioeconomic growth, improve water resource management, mitigate climate change impacts, and foster the conservation of vital ecosystems,” he added.
