Ung sits as a panellist during a plenary session on ‘Rethinking Hydro: Powering Tomorrow’s World’ at WEC 2019.
KUCHING: Delegates at the recently-concluded 24th World Energy Congress (WEC) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, were given insight on how renewable hydroelectricity-power was powering sustainable development in Sarawak.
Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) was represented by SEB Power chief executive officer James Ung, who shared the group’s story with an audience of 80 delegates.
SEB Power is the generation arm of the SEB.
“Sarawak Energy is transforming, from a traditional utility into a renewable energy developer and digital utility. In addition to lighting up 99 per cent of Sarawak by 2020, we have a forward vision as a regional powerhouse for Asean.
“Our hydropower story began about 30 years ago with the commissioning of the 108MW Batang Ai hydroelectricity power plant (HEP). This was accelerated in the last 10 years with Bakun and Murum HEPs, and we have a current generation mix of predominantly renewable and affordable hydropower,” he said.
Ung said Sarawak began to experience the positive impact in development, social outcomes and environmental footprint.
Ung was a panellist during a plenary session on ‘Rethinking Hydro: Powering Tomorrow’s World’ which was moderated by Seetapathy Chander, advisor for World Energy Council India.
The other panellists included Paraguay’s Minister of Public Works and Communications Arnoldo Wiens Durksen, and Ethiopia’s Minister of Water, Irrigation and Electricity Sileshi Bekele.
“Our hydropower venture has accelerated the development at our dam sites like Bakun and Murum and in the surrounding areas, and we will continue to maximise the positive impact of HEPs for the community,” said Ung.
SEB has been proactively engaging its neighbouring communities to ensure the best practices in hydropower development, as stipulated under the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocols (HSAP) of the International Hydropower Association (IHA), as well as the United Nation (UN)’s Sustainable Development Goals.
“The shift to hydropower from hydrocarbons has significantly reduced carbon emissions in Sarawak’s power system by 71 per cent since 2009. Through our existing and planned interconnections, we can share our renewable energy resources with our neighbours and further contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions in the region,” said Ung.
SEB commenced export of power to West Kalimantan in 2016, and there have been talks with Sabah and Brunei for potential power exchange agreements in the near future, in line with Sarawak’s aspiration to becoming a regional powerhouse by realising the ‘Borneo Grid’.
Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Salman Al Saud, the State Minister of Energy Affairs – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, officiated at the opening of WEC 2019, which is a triennial event.
Organised by World Energy Council, the WEC is a global leadership forum that defines the strategy for a collaborative, sustainable and innovative energy future that enables societal, commercial and community prosperity.
This year’s theme was ‘Energy for Prosperity’. The recent event was attended by about 4,000 delegates, including ministers, business leaders, policy-makers and industry practitioners from 150 countries.