Harnessing renewable energy potential

Sarawak sets target to generate 10GW by 2030 via abundant power sources to meet rising demand

… the state’s power supply will not only be sourced from hydropower, solar or gas turbine generator, but will also include biomass energy.

Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg

MIRI: Sarawak aims to have the capacity to generate 10 gigawa s (GW) of energy through its abundant power sources by 2030, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

He disclosed that he had instructed Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB), as the primary producer of electricity in Sarawak, to generate the amount to meet rising energy demands by capitalising on renewable sources.

“From SEB chief executive officer Datuk Sharbini Suhaili’s reaction to the proposal, he is positive that by 2030, the state’s power supply will not only be sourced from hydropower, solar or gas turbine generator, but will also include biomass energy.”

Abang Johari, who is also Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability, said this at a press conference a er visiting Kota 2 Mini Hydro power station in Lawas, near here yesterday.

Adding on, he said the adoption of biomass plan and the utilisation of biomass energy of between one to 1.5GW as an alternative energy will be further explored.

The biomass-based industry for electricity generation, he said, has the potential to drive foreign investments to Sarawak.

“I have 17 European ambassadors who are supportive of green technology, and through the funding from the European Investment Bank, this will provide Sarawak with investment opportunities,” he said.

Meanwhile, he told a separate press conference a er a working visit to Sungai Tujoh Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex yesterday that the state government has approved RM4 million to improve facilities at the complex and implement a multiple entry point system there.

He said he had been briefed about the congestion at Sungai Tujoh and on the increase in traffic from Brunei to Malaysia, and vice versa.

“That’s why we need to look at the facilities at Sungai Tujoh and also review its entry point. Perhaps one (entry point) to be dedicated to Brunei and foreigners while another for Malaysians,” he said.

On the increased traffic at the facility, Abang Johari said the relevant agencies at the complex had requested interim improvement on the facility while waiting for the new complex project under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) to materialise.

Elaborating, he said the number of visitors passing through Sungai Tujoh check point was also expected to increase further with more visitors from Japan and Korea coming in through Brunei.

“We have knowledge that visitors from Japan and Korea are coming to Brunei on Royal Brunei Airline, then (head) to Miri. Thus it is our responsibility to smoothen their journey from Brunei to Sarawak.”

Meanwhile, Abang Johari also requested the State Secretary to have an administrative team to monitor the flow of visitors from Brunei to Malaysia.

“Now we are only talking about Sungai Tujoh (improvement), but we also have another entry point in Limbang from Brunei, as well as an exit point from Limbang to Sabah. Meaning, we have two more ICQS there.

“We need to have the same setting for all these ICQS, particularly for the northern region,” he said.

He said once the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha Bridge that connects Brunei to Limbang is completed next year, the number of visitors will also increase, as it will only take 15 minutes to reach Limbang from

Brunei.

“They (visitors) will go through the Raja Isteri bridge in Brunei which is connected to Limbang. If it takes only 15 minutes, of course many will be passing through it. Then, we will also have to do interim improvement on the ICQS in Limbang.

“In fact, I have also suggested to the federal government for the implementation of multiple entry points for foreigners and Malaysian citizens respectively.

“The visitors’ data will be available in the system as soon as they enter and all the way to the end of their journey. So, we already have all these technologies in our management side,” he explained.

Meanwhile, State Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin thanked the Premier for taking the time to view the congestion problem at Sungai Tujoh and for approving the allocation for the interim solution.

“This has been a long-standing problem that needs immediate interim solutions. Our ministry’s engineer will work together with the relevant agencies to ensure the smooth implementation of the interim solution,” he said.

Lee added that Abang Johari had also instructed him to look into implementing the same solution for Limbang and Lawas.