KUCHING: Sarawak Energy has recently won three prestigious international awards for sustainable business.
The state-owned energy developer and utility won the “Best Strategy and Sustainability Management”, “Best UN Sustainable Development Goals” and “A Special Recognition for Sustainability in the Community”.
It received the awards at the prestigious Sustainable Business Awards Malaysia 2018, organised by Global Initiatives on Jan 29 in Kuala Lumpur.
Global Initiatives is an organisation which conducted programmes on sustainable business across 30 countries, seeking to advance partnerships in driving change for a better future.
Sarawak Energy’s efforts to embed sustainability into its business was recognised when it was announced the recipients of the three awards.
Sarawak Energy’s Corporate Services executive vice-president Aisah Eden received the awards from Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change and Environment Minister Yeo Bee Yin at the event, held for the first time in Malaysia.
Aisah was accompanied by Sarawak Energy Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability general manager Jiwari Abdullah and Sustainability senior manager Mohamad Irwan Aman to receive the awards.
“We are honoured to be recognised by this prestigious organisation for our efforts to build sustainability into our business and this will motivate us to strive even harder.
“This provides additional assurance that we are on the right path following confirmation in 2016 that our initiatives are aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” Aisah, who represented Sarawak Energy as the UN Global Compact Network (Malaysia) vice-president said.
She said that Sarawak Energy’s 2016 Sustainability Report had been endorsed by the Global Reporting Initiative on the accuracy of the SDGs linkages to its relevant indicators.
Sarawak Energy Group chief executive officer Datuk Sharbini Suhaili, when commenting on the win, said “These awards serve as recognition for Sarawak Energy in our role as a renewable energy provider and as a leader in championing sustainability practices.
“This was made possible with teamwork from all our departments and the will to think and act globally and validates our commitment in benchmarking our sustainability efforts with best in class organisations,” he added.
The Sustainable Business Awards recognises businesses that strive to excel in their sustainable practices. The awards also help build a global knowledge network of best practices, enabling businesses to benchmark and improve their performances.
The Sustainable Business Awards event has been held in Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore over the past seven years.
Sarawak Energy was nominated for the awards and the result was assured by a third party following a stringent assessment by the award’s assessment partner, PwC Malaysia (PricewaterhouseCoopers).
The framework was developed in collaboration with stakeholders as well as leading global experts.
The results were then shared with the award’s National Advisory Panel for deliberation. Sitting on the panel were key representatives from ACCA Malaysia, UN Global Compact Network Malaysia, Jeffrey Sachs Centre for Sustainable Development, Control Union, Nova Fusion and Global Initiatives.
Sarawak Energy is the owner and operator of the Bakun, Murum and Batang Ai Hydroelectric Power Plants and is currently developing the Baleh Hydroelectric Plant.
It voluntarily adopted the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol. In 2011, it formed a sustainability partnership with the International Hydropower Association to ensure best practice in hydropower development.
This began Sarawak Energy’s journey in sustainability in 2012, underpinned by the understanding that continuous improvement and strategic sustainability management from different business functions, government, and communities are key to sustainable growth.
The transition to achieve sustainable growth benefits not only the companies. It also contributes towards national and global agendas.
