KUCHING: Sarawak’s low carbon energy transition with renewable hydropower as the foundation continues to attract international interest.
At the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) 2022 from Oct 25 – 28 Sarawak Energy participated in different sessions as part of the conversation on the global energy transition and its vital role in climate action.
At a panel session on ‘Scaling Decarbonisation Technologies’ at SIEW’s Singapore-IRENA High Level Forum, Sarawak Energy Group chief executive officer Datuk Sharbini Suhaili reminded delegates that hydropower was the “forgotten giant” of the energy transition.
In the conversation with other international energy leaders, Sharbini narrated Sarawak’s hydropower development experience and how it had accelerated the transition to other renewables.
He explained how the renewable power source had decarbonised Sarawak’s grid emission intensity, accelerated Sarawak’s socio-economic transformation and triggered research and expansion of alternative renewables like solar, floating solar and green hydrogen production.
Sharbini also highlighted that for developing countries in the Asean region, energy affordability remains a critical need and renewable hydropower has enabled Sarawak to offer the lowest unsubsidised tariffs in Malaysia and the region.
He also emphasised collaboration and sharing of renewable energy resources as critical towards achieving regional decarbonisation goals.
“While we work on securing energy and strengthening supply reliability, providing affordability is crucial and since we (Sarawak) have the capacity, we can share our resources through connectivity and interconnections to help support and accelerate the transition towards renewables in the region.
“We need to work together to advance the transition, and this requires strong political will with action-oriented policies in place,” said Sharbini.
Fellow panelists included Yoon Young Kim, President for Schneider Electric Malaysia and Brunei; Kaveh Zahedi, Deputy Executive Secretary for United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP); David Gray, Non-Executive Director for Tokamak Energy; Elizabeth Urbanas, Deputy Assistant Secretary of International Affairs in the Department of Energy, United States and Dr Akhomdeth Vongsay, Director General, Department of Planning and Cooperation in the Ministry of Energy and Mines, Lao PDR.
