solar power system installed by Sarawak Energy Bhd in Lio Mato in interior northern Sarawak.
KUCHING: Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) has become the first major corporation in Malaysia to receive international recognition as the global Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi) validates the state-owned company’s ambitious near-term carbon emissions reduction target.
The endorsement underscored the renewable energy developer’s unwavering commitment to sustainability and climate action. The approval target aimed for a 80.3% reduction in carbon intensity in both Scope 1 and Scope 2 by 2030.
“This includes direct emissions from net energy generation and company-owned vehicles (Scope 1) as well as indirect emission from buildings and offices (Scope 2).
“In addition, SEB pledges a 42% reduction in absolute Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions from the use of sold products (category 11) by 2030 based on a 2021 baseline,” said the power utility.
This marked a significant stride towards aligning with the goals of the Paris Agreement and reinforces the company’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions throughout its business value chain.
The SBTi is a partnership between Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute and World Wide Fund for Nature.
The SBTi drives ambitious climate action in the private sector by enabling companies to set science-based emission reduction targets. It aims to accelerate global efforts to cut emissions by half before 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions before 2050.Established in 2015, the CDP is an International non-profit organisation based in the United Kingdom, Japan, India, China, Germany, Brazil and the United States. SEB, which generates and distributes electricity in Sarawak, was among 2,079 organisations worldwide granted the SBTi approval in 2023. Sarawak Energy owns and operates two major hydroelectric dams – 2,400MW Bakun and 944MW Murum dams in the upper Rejang Basin in central Sarawak – and the 108MW Batang Ai hydro dam in Sri Aman Division.
The company is constructing the 1,285MW Baleh dam.
Senior vice-president for corporate services Siti Aisah Adenan said SEB continues to advance hydropower, which predominantly contributes to the available generating capacity in Sarawak, powering residential, commercial and industrial activities and supporting the state’s economic growth strategy.
“SEB is committed to supporting the state’s demand for a reliable and secure power supply while continuously working towards decarbonising the power system.
“As part of Sarawak’s transition to a low-carbon economy, this commitment aligns with our support for the Paris Agreement. SEB utilises the SBTi to quantify its emissions, better understand the group’s emissions performance, and develop an emissions reduction intervention action plan,” she added.
Siti Aisah said the validation by SBTi followed SEB’s status as the first large corporate body in Malaysia to sign the “Business Ambition for 1.5 degrees Celsius “ pledge in 2020, further solidfying its commitment to addressing climate change.
In another development, SEB clinched a total of 20 awards at the Malaysian Society for Occupational Safety and Health’s (MSOSH) recent awards in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
SEB’s Murum hydroelectric plant and its Sibu regional office were both honoured with one of the MSOSH Awards’ highest accolades – the gold merit award.
The Balingian Energy Minerals received the gold class-one award, the sole coal mining company in Malaysia to earn the recognition.
