Ung (left) talks to the reporters during their visit to the Sarawak Energy building as part of the Zamalah Wartawan Malaysia 2018 while Sarawak Energy corporate communication general manager Peing Tajang looks on.
KUCHING: Sarawak Energy is keen to be one of the key drivers in developing the Borneo power grid with the potential of further strengthening the position of the Borneo Island as a power hub in Southeast Asia in the future.
SEB Power Sdn Bhd – a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sarawak Energy Berhad – chief executive officer James Ung said this to reporters during their visit to the Sarawak Energy building here as part of the Zamalah Wartawan Malaysia (training of media personnel) 2018 yesterday.
He opined that the Borneo power grid will be very successful as the power generated can be exported to Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and even southeast of Philippines through undersea cables.
Over the years, Sarawak Energy has undergone transformation in its power generation mix of predominantly hydrocarbon fuel to 75 per cent hydropower green energy today.
“Looking forward to 2020 to 2025, we are maintaining a generation mix of not less than 60 per cent hydropower and not more than 40 per cent hydrocarbon,” said Ung.
Besides, he said Sarawak Energy is currently working closely with West and North Kalimantan, Indonesia and a power exchange agreement has been signed between Sarawak Energy and West Kalimantan.
“As of today, we are selling more than 200 megawatts to West Kalimantan and we continue to negotiate with West Kalimantan to develop further.
“On the Borneo (island), both Kalimantan and Sarawak are very rich with hydropower and today Sarawak Energy has embarked on a collaboration with North Kalimantan in developing their hydropower potential.”
Furthermore, he said Sarawak Energy is looking at connecting Sarawak electricity network to Sabah and Brunei and export of electricity to Sabah will take place by 2021 or 2022.
During the presentation, he also shared that the reservoirs that are constructed for the hydropower generation can also serve to provide clean water, acts as a water catchment area and plays a role in biodiversity conservation.
Sarawak Energy is also aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals such as affordable and clean energy, good jobs and economic growth, sustainable cities and communities, partnerships for the goals and climate action to carry out its activities.