NEWS & UPDATES

KUALA LUMPUR, 5 SEPTEMBER 2019, THURSDAY: Sarawak Energy participated in the Energy Capital Leaders Asia Summit at POWERGEN Asia & Asian Utility Week 2019 here, sharing Sarawak’s vision of becoming a regional powerhouse and its efforts related to adopting the new energy economy and digital utility.

The event attracted more than 11,000 attendees and around 350 exhibitors, including Sarawak Energy.

James Ung, Chief Executive Officer of SEB Power, the generation arm of Sarawak Energy, was a panelist on the session themed “Energy Transition Planning: How We Create the Powerhouses of the New Energy Economy” moderated by Paul Sakrzewski, MD Asia Pacific and Japan for Copperleaf Singapore.

Panelists included (TBC) Abhay Shah, SVP Business Development for Marubeni Asian Power, Singapore, Arnfinn Unum, Country Manager Malaysia for Scatec Solar, Malaysia and Sam Ong, CFO for Vena Energy.

In the session yesterday, Ung said, “Sarawak’s generation mix of predominantly sustainable and reliable hydropower is supporting the new energy economy that is shaping in the region, and hydropower development has proven to be a strong enabler for Sarawak.”

Sarawak Energy’s generation mix is currently about 75% hydropower and the energy developer and power utility group expects to maintain hydropower as the predominant part of its generation mix in the future.

Under the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy or SCORE, the corporation was entrusted by the State government to harness Sarawak’s abundant hydroelectric potential and indigenous natural resources to power socio-economic development.

“The new energy economy reflects how we leverage on low-carbon and renewable energy resources to stimulate socio-economic growth in a sustainable manner for Sarawak and beyond, creating value along our business chain. Our carbon emission intensity for electricity supply has also decreased by 76.5% since 2009. We are also contributing towards the Malaysian Government’s national goal to reduce emission by 35-40% by 2030."

"We have been able to offer among the most competitive tariffs within ASEAN attracting significant investments from power intensive industries to Sarawak, benefiting the people and state,” he pointed out.

He said in addition to including solar on a bigger scale as well as continued exploration of other forms of renewables like the recently ventured hydrogen economy, Sarawak Energy has been developing and maximising renewable hydropower to achieve sustainable growth and prosperity for Sarawak by meeting the region’s energy needs.

Sarawak envisions to be the regional powerhouse for ASEAN, starting with the Borneo Grid for energy security and reliability to support the economic growth of Borneo and beyond.

Ung also shared with delegates and panelists how Sarawak Energy’s proactive steps to instill interest, knowledge and the culture of change within the company was essential for its transformation into a digital utility of the future.

“We apply a three-pronged digital journey approach focused on i) man, ii) machine and iii) method. This forms the basis of our integrated information and communication technology (ICT) blueprint through which digital technology is embedded throughout the entire value chain of our business from generation, transmission, distribution and customer,” he explained.

“By 2025, we aim to be ahead of the curve among the industry players in this region and be empowered to engage in smart business initiatives. We have started utilising digital tools and solutions for operational efficiency and improving business outcomes,” he added.

YB Yeo Bee Yin, Malaysia’s Minister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change officiated at the event.

Sarawak Energy was also an exhibitor at POWERGEN Asia 2019.

In conjunction with POWERGEN Asia 2019, the Asian Power Awards 2019 was held later in the evening. Sarawak Energy was recognised for the Murum HEP (Silver award for the Hydro Power Project of the Year) and implementation of the Sarawak Alternative Rural Electrification Scheme or SARES (Solar Power Project of the Year).

James Ung, CEO for SEB Power (second left) speaking at the session themed “Energy Transition Planning: How We Create the Powerhouses of the New Energy Economy” along with the other panelists.

James Ung, CEO for SEB Power (seated fifth left) leading the delegation from Sarawak Energy at POWERGEN Asia 2019.

James Ung, CEO for SEB Power