NEWS & UPDATE

SINGAPORE
25 OCTOBER 2024

The recently concluded 17th edition of the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW 2024) organised by the Singapore Energy Market Authority (EMA) and themed “A Connected and Sustainable Energy World,” brought together global energy professionals to discuss the current and future of energy, with a focus on Southeast Asia.

On the first day of SIEW 2024, The Right Honourable Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg, Premier of Sarawak, delivered a keynote address where he highlighted Sarawak’s focus on socio-economic growth through renewable hydropower and the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030. He also shared with the audience of energy and sustainability leaders how Sarawak is exploring additional renewable sources like solar, biomass and hydrogen to power the state’s future. The Premier emphasised the importance of regional collaboration, particularly advancing the ASEAN Power Grid (APG) for an inclusive regional energy transition.

Together with the Premier at the event were The Honourable Dato Sri Haji Julaihi Haji Narawi, Minister for Utility and Telecommunication Sarawak; The Honourable Datuk Dr Hazland Hipni, Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Sarawak; Datuk Amar Haji Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Sarawak State Secretary; Datu Abg Ahmad Abg Morni, Permanent Secretary for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Sarawak; and Datu Jafri Lias, Permanent Secretary for Utility and Telecommunication Sarawak. Representing Sarawak Energy were its Chairman, The Honourable Dato Haji Ibrahim Haji Baki; along with board members Tan Sri Datuk Amar Haji Mohamad Morshidi Haji Abdul Ghani and Dato Sri Fong Joo Chung; and Group Chief Executive Officer Datuk Haji Sharbini Suhaili. After his address, they joined the Premier to officially launch the Sarawak Energy booth at the SIEW 2024 exhibition centre.

At SIEW 2024, Sarawak Energy joined other regional energy thought leaders in advocating for a collaborative framework to facilitate the delivery of interconnectivity energy projects across ASEAN.

Speaking at two plenary sessions at SIEW 2024, Datuk Haji Sharbini highlighted the need for concerted efforts among ASEAN governments to formulate a comprehensive framework with forward-looking energy policies to guide the region’s energy transition.

“The private sector need support from the governments to facilitate the delivery of the ASEAN Power Grid, which would enable the sharing of renewable energy resources among neighbouring countries, ensuring a just and inclusive energy transition in the region,” said Datuk Haji Sharbini.

He added that Sarawak Energy remains committed to this vision and has been stepping up efforts on establishing the Borneo Grid, connecting with the neighbouring state of Sabah, as well as Kalimantan in Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam.

Datuk Haji Sharbini said cross-border interconnection comes with complex risks that can only be overcome with governments having the political will to work together on a common framework, empowering the private sector to lead in the implementation of these interconnection projects. He reiterated this as his main message at both plenary sessions: the Singapore-IRENA High-Level Forum, titled “Forging A Resilient Renewable Energy Ecosystem” and the ‘Future of the Grid’ Global Leaders Panel, hosted by Enlit Asia, themed “Empowering Energy Systems for a Sustainable Future”.

The Singapore-IRENA High-Level Forum session was moderated by Paula Conboy, Senior Counsel at Sussex Strategy Group, and comprised panellists Sharad Somani, Partner, Head of Infrastructure Advisory, Asia Pacific and Head of ESG, KPMG in Singapore; Som Shantanu, Asia President of Engineering, Gas Power, GE Vernova; Roberto Lorato, CEO of MedcoEnergi; and Ganesh Padmanabhan, MD and Head of Project Finance at DBS Bank.

At the ‘Future of the Grid’ Global Leaders Panel, Datuk Haji Sharbini shared Sarawak’s renewable energy journey, driven by hydropower, in contributing to energy security while providing the impetus to decarbonise. He emphasised the importance of balancing the energy trilemma—ensuring energy security, affordability, and sustainability—while modernising the grid with innovative technology solutions to manage intermittency and stability.

This panel session was moderated by Yatin Premchand, Managing Director, Strategic Advisory, Black & Veatch, and featured Jackie B. Surtani, Regional Director, Singapore, Asian Development Bank; Venu Nuguri, Managing Director & CEO, India and South Asia, Hitachi Energy; and Miguel Fonseca, CEO, EDP Renewables APAC, as speakers.

On the first day of SIEW 2024, The Right Honourable Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg, Premier of Sarawak, delivered a keynote address where he highlighted Sarawak’s focus on socio-economic growth through renewable hydropower and the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030.

After delivering his keynote address at the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW 2024), The Right Honourable Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg, Premier of Sarawak officially launched the Sarawak Energy booth at the SIEW 2024 exhibition centre. Joining him at the launch were The Honourable Dato Sri Haji Julaihi Haji Narawi, Minister for Utility and Telecommunication Sarawak; The Honourable Datuk Dr Hazland Hipni, Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Sarawak; Datuk Amar Haji Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Sarawak State Secretary; Datu Abg Ahmad Abg Morni, Permanent Secretary for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Sarawak; and Datu Jafri Lias, Permanent Secretary for Utility and Telecommunication Sarawak. Representing Sarawak Energy were its Chairman, The Honourable Dato Haji Ibrahim Haji Baki, along with board members Tan Sri Datuk Amar Haji Mohamad Morshidi Haji Abdul Ghani and Dato Sri Fong Joo Chung; Group Chief Executive Officer Datuk Haji Sharbini Suhaili, and its senior management team.

Datuk Haji Sharbini Suhaili, Group Chief Executive Officer of Sarawak Energy, spoke at a Singapore-IRENA High-Level Forum session titled “Forging A Resilient Renewable Energy Ecosystem”. The panel session was moderated by Paula Conboy, Senior Counsel at Sussex Strategy Group, and comprised panellists Sharad Somani, Partner, Head of Infrastructure Advisory, Asia Pacific and Head of ESG, KPMG in Singapore; Som Shantanu, Asia President of Engineering, Gas Power, GE Vernova; Roberto Lorato, CEO of MedcoEnergi; and Ganesh Padmanabhan, MD and Head of Project Finance at DBS Bank. Organised by Singapore’s Energy Market Authority and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the Singapore-IRENA High-Level Forum was one of the main lineups of the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW 2024).

At SIEW 2024, Sarawak Energy Group Chief Executive Officer Datuk Haji Sharbini Suhaili also spoke at the ‘Future of the Grid’ Global Leaders Panel, organised by Enlit Asia. This panel session was moderated by Yatin Premchand, Managing Director, Strategic Advisory, Black & Veatch, and featured Jackie B. Surtani, Regional Director, Singapore, Asian Development Bank; Venu Nuguri, Managing Director & CEO, India and South Asia, Hitachi Energy; and Miguel Fonseca, CEO, EDP Renewables APAC, as speakers.