NEWS & UPDATES

KUCHING
16 MAY 2023

The Premier of Sarawak, The Right Honourable Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg and his wife Yang Amat Berbahagia Puan Sri Datuk Amar Hajjah Juma'ani Tun Tuanku Haji Bujang joined Sarawak Energy’s “Majlis Ramah Tamah Hari Raya Aidlfitri” event held at UCSI Hotel here on 16 May. 

Guests at the celebration, which included Sarawak Energy’s Kuching-based staff and stakeholders, were feted to Hari Raya delicacies while being entertained by live performances of festive music.

Sarawak Energy Chairman Datuk Amar Abdul Hamed Sepawi and Group Chief Executive Officer Sharbini Suhaili hosted the event with Sarawak Energy’s board members and senior management team.

Speaking at the event, the Premier highlighted the importance of Sarawak Energy's contribution to the state's economy and its progress towards becoming a high-income and developed state by 2030.

“As a valuable partner to the Sarawak Government, Sarawak Energy has been key in enabling us to make great strides towards becoming a regional renewable energy powerhouse, which is in line with the renewable energy pillar of our Post COVID-19 Development Strategy or PCDS 2030.

“Through renewable hydropower development, we have been able to bolster socio-economic growth within Sarawak, with hydropower being the catalyst for the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy or SCORE,” he said.

Abang Zohari said Sarawak's renewable energy has opened opportunities for the state to develop interconnections with its regional neighbours as it progresses an interconnected Borneo and the wider ASEAN grid.

“Sarawak is steadily growing our regional presence. We are demonstrating this by progressing the 1,375MW Mentarang Induk HEP in North Kalimantan which saw its ground-breaking ceremony on 1 March this year.”

“We are also working towards a potential Singapore interconnection – a collaboration that will further cement Sarawak’s position as a regional renewable energy powerhouse and help support the energy transition at home and abroad,” said the Premier.

In concluding his remarks, the Premier thanked all industry partners for their support in the government's efforts to create a sustainable future for Sarawak and contribute towards its ambition to achieve high-income status by 2030.

“The partnership between the Sarawak Government and Sarawak Energy has been a fruitful one. I know that we will continue to work productively going forward, for the benefit of the rakyat. The Sarawak Government will continue supporting Sarawak Energy, with full confidence in your ability to continue keeping the lights on for Sarawak and its people,” he said.

In his welcoming address, Sarawak Energy Chairman Datuk Amar Abdul Hamed Sepawi expressed his appreciation to the Premier for gracing the event and for the government's continued support towards the Group's efforts in providing reliable and sustainable energy to the people of Sarawak.

“The vision and steer provided by the Premier and Sarawak Government has helped us transform our generation mix from being primarily fossil fuel to predominantly renewable hydropower, which has significantly decarbonised our power system in the last decade.

“In addition, our partnership with the Sarawak Government, particularly the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication, has allowed us to make a difference in Sarawak’s rural areas, as we have made significant progress in achieving full domestic electrification under the Rural Power Master Plan by supplying even the most remote communities within the state with 24-hour electricity supply,” said Abdul Hamed, while reiterating Sarawak Energy's commitment to its vision of becoming a regional player in renewable energy and to achieve a sustainable future for Sarawak.

Among the guests at the event were Deputy Premier Dato Sri Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian, Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Julaihi Narawi, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah and Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Dr Hazland Abang Hipni.