Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
KUCHING: Sarawak has made headway on several fronts in its plans to export renewable energy to fulfil its aspiration as the “Battery of Asean.”
Commercial negotiations for power inter-connection with Singapore are progressing well following the completion of the technical studies with Singapore’s Sembcorp Utilities, according to Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
State-owned Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) is part of the consortium with Sembcorp and SP Group (a leading utilities group in Asia-Pacific) that conducted the feasibility study to explore the potential of Sarawak-Singapore power transmission.
Discussions are on-going with Indonesia regarding Sarawak’s undersea cable project to export electricity to Singapore, with the hopes that the infrastructure will be ready by 2030, Abang Johari said when giving an update on the project after delivering a keynote address on “A Connected and Sustainable Energy World,” at the Singapore International Energy Week 2024 last week.
SEB plans to export up to 1,000 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy to Singapore via 700km of submarine cables, out of which about 70% will be laid under the Indonesian waters. The Federal government has given its nod to Sarawak on this power inter-connection project.
Abang Johari said Tenaga Nasional Bhd
(TNB) is currently conducting a pre-feasibility for a potential Sarawak-to-Peninsula Malaysia link for the export of electricity from Sarawak.
“These projects mark significant milestones for Sarawak’s role in the Asean Power Grid’s next phase,” he added.
Back in 2007, TNB had planned to construct the submarine cables connecting Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia for the transmission of electricity from the 2,400MW Bakun hydroelectric dam, but the project was aborted due to the high cost.
The Bakun dam was then owned by the Federal government which was later sold to SEB.
In Borneo, Abang Johari said SEB targets to export electricity to Sabah by 2025 and to oil-rich Brunei between 2027 and 2030.
Under a power exchange agreement and an interconnection agreement inked between SEB’s wholly-owned subsidiary Syarikat SESCO Bhd and Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) in 2021, Sarawak will initially export 30MW of electricity for 15 year to SESB via a 31km 275 kilovolts double-circuit transmission line under the SEB Northern Grid extension project from Lawas (northern Sarawak) to Mangalong (Sabah).
The northern grid extension project is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of this year.
SEB has been exporting electricity to West Kalimantan, Indonesia through collaboration with Perusahan Listrik Negara (Indonesian utility body) since 2016.
“Building on this foundation, we are advancing the monumental Mentarang Induk Hydroelectric Plant (MIHEP) in Indonesia, a project that promises to reshape the nation’s energy landscape.
“Moving forward, we will explore the potential to link North Kalimantan’s significant hydropower resources to the rest of Borneo and beyond.
“The success of Sarawak’s first international transboundary interconnection has set the stage for further bilateral projects,” said Abang Johari.
Former Indonesian President Joko Widodo performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the 1.375 gigawatts) MIHEP project witnessed by Abang Johari in March 2023.
The project, which is estimated to cost US$2.6bil, is a joint venture between Indonesia’s PT Kayan Patria Pratama Group and SEB. The project will take seven years to complete.
“Sarawak is committed to supporting South-East Asia’s transition to renewable energy as we have the potential to be the “Battery of Asean” sharing our predominantly renewable power with South-East Asian neighbours through the interconnected Borneo and Asean Power Grid.
“As regional demand for clean energy grows, these efforts are essential for enhancing cross-border energy exchange, strengthening regional security and accelerating the clean energy transition.”
Looking ahead to the Asean Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation 2026-2030 period and with Malaysia assuming the Asean chair in 2025, the Sarawak Premier said the state is dedicated to deepening regional cooperation and fostering greater connectivity across our energy systems.
“Sarawak is actively collaborating with the Malaysian Federal government to advance the Asean power grid, with the formation of a joint task force between Malaysia and Indonesia to accelerate the development.
“By doing so, we can collectively drive meaningful progress towards a sustainable and resilient energy future for all Asean member states. Sarawak’s partnership with Indonesia, Sabah, Brunei and Singapore could lay the foundation for cross-border energy trade through ground-breaking projects, like the Borneo Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines Interconnection.”
