Working Visit By The Premier Of Sarawak To Kota 2 Mini Hydroelectric Plant In Lawas

LAWAS
7 MARCH 2024

Towards advancing sustainable energy development in Sarawak, the Premier of Sarawak, The Right Honourable Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg led a working visit to Kota 2 Mini Hydroelectric Plant (HEP) in Lawas hosted by the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication Sarawak and Sarawak Energy earlier today.

The Premier was accompanied by the Deputy Premier of Sarawak, The Honourable Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah Ali Hasan; Minister for Utility and Telecommunication, The Honourable Dato Sri Haji Julaihi Haji Narawi; Deputy Minister for Utility and Telecommunication II (Utility), The Honourable Datuk Dr. Haji Abdul Rahman Haji Junaidi; Deputy Minister for Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development I (Modernisation of Agriculture), The Honourable Datuk Dr. Haji Abdul Rahman Haji Ismail including the Member of Parliament for Lawas, The Honourable Dato Henry Sum Agong and Assemblyman for Batu Danau, The Honourable Dato Paulus Palu Gumbang.

Also present were Sarawak State Secretary, Datuk Amar Haji Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki; State Financial Secretary, Dato Sri Dr. Wan Lizozman Haji Wan Omar; Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication, Jafri Lias; and Deputy Permanent Secretary and Director of Electricity Supply, Syed Mohamad Fauzi Shahab; along with senior government officials and community leaders.

The visit aimed to provide comprehensive insights into the cascade power source scheme implemented between Kota 2 and Kota 1 Mini HEPs, with a particular focus on harnessing the power potential of cascading scheme from Sarawak's water resources.

The programme commenced with welcoming remarks from Sarawak Energy's Group Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Haji Sharbini Suhaili, who emphasised the importance of the facility to ensure sustainable electricity supply in Lawas. He affirmed that the visit was a testament to Kota 2 Mini HEP's significance to Sarawak's sustainability efforts and acknowledged the strong support provided by the Sarawak Government to Sarawak Energy across all its operations.

The development of the plant was initiated to address the challenges Lawas encountered due to its dependence on diesel for power generation, leading to its commissioning in 2019. With an installed capacity of 10.5MW, the plant now delivers sustainable and cost-effective energy to the districts in Northern Sarawak. This is particularly significant considering the district's peak electrical load of 14MW and an annual demand growth of 5% which is fuelled by domestic needs and ongoing developments.

"The integration of the Kota 2 Mini HEP into our grid diversifies Sarawak's energy portfolio and facilitates sustainable electricity supply, reducing reliance on fossil fuels," he said.

Sarawak Energy's Vice President for Hydro, Jonny Wong Kwei Ji, and Station Manager for Miri Power Station, Samuel Tang Kah Hung briefed the dignitaries on the cascade power source scheme and the plant specifications. The session also covered the development of sustainable energy within the state through the utilisation of cascading power sources, serving as part of the essential foundation for Sarawak's continued development.

Following the briefing, Datuk Haji Sharbini led a Q&A session with Jonny Wong, Samuel Tang; Cheling Sapong, General Manager for Gas; and Muhammad Saiful Aswandee Narudin, Senior Engineer for Gas. The Premier and dignitaries were then guided on a tour of the power house, concluding the event with a press conference.

During the press conference, the Premier commended Sarawak Energy and the Lawas community for embracing renewable energy development via hydropower. He emphasised Sarawak Energy's target to generate 10GW of power by 2030, expressing confidence in Datuk Haji Sharbini's leadership.

In addition to the 3,452MW of renewable energy generated by Sarawak Energy's 108MW Batang Ai HEP, 2,400MW Bakun HEP, and 944MW Murum HEP; the Kota 2 Mini HEP is one of eight mini HEPs across Sarawak, totalling 17.8MW in installed capacity. These facilities collectively provide sustainable, competitively tariffed, and clean electricity to Sarawak - supporting domestic, commercial and industrial customers.

As a long-term advocate for sustainable hydropower development, Sarawak Energy integrates international best practices into its projects and operations, addressing various aspects of technical, economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

Sarawak Energy is Malaysia's largest renewable energy developer and provider and remains steadfast in its commitment to harnessing renewable resources for a sustainable energy future, thereby contributing to regional and global net-zero targets. This dedication not only propels Sarawak's energy sector forward but also establishes a benchmark for sustainable energy development in Southeast Asia.

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