KUCHING, February 21, 2022 - Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg today heaped praises on Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) for transforming itself into an international energy industry player, in the process carrying Sarawak’s flag at internationally and regionally energy industry platforms.
He said for SEB to survive and thrive for 100 years is an exceptional feat, one which SEB has managed to accomplish.
“The longevity and achievements of your organisation are something all of us are very proud of,” he said at SEB Centenary Townhall here.
“As Sarawak's primary power utility, your efforts and contributions have been key in supporting the government's efforts to drive socioeconomic development in Sarawak towards our ambition of becoming a high-income state by 2030,” he said.
“Our goal is to ensure all Sarawakians have equal opportunities to participate in the state’s overall development and enjoy equitable distribution of wealth through jobs and business opportunities.
“Rural areas of Sarawak must be equipped with all the basic infrastructure and facilities to enable communities to participate in wealth creation activities, improving the standard of living in these areas,” he added.
“In comparison to 2009 when the rural electrification rate was only at 56%, today about 97% of our rural communities have access to 24/7 reliable, renewable and clean electricity via a suite of grid and off grid solutions including solar and micro hydro power systems,” he said.
SEB group chief executive officer Datuk Sarbini Suhaili said SEB has achieved remarkable milestones over the last 100 years.
“We can say with a strong measure of pride that we are now ahead of the sustainable energy development curve, transitioning from a generation mix that was 100% fossil fuel when we began in the 1920s to over 90% fossil fuel in 2010 to predominantly renewable hydropower today.
“We are now Malaysia’s largest renewable energy developer, we have almost met our target of achieving full electrification of Sarawak by 2025.
“From a customer base of just 84 in southern Sarawak in the 1920s, we now provide electricity to over 740,000 accounts, serving a population of almost 3 million people in Sarawak, with customers in Indonesia.
“We started with around 30 staff and today, we are among the largest employers of professional Sarawak talent with 5,400 purposeful and dedicated employees.
“In fact, our subject matter experts are sought after to share their knowledge and technical expertise beyond our borders,” Sarbini said.
He said these accomplishments were made possible by the support and strategic direction of the Sarawak government, with much of today’s major corporate achievements a direct result of SCOREwhich was launched in 2008,” he said.
He said the period 2010 to 2020 was an important decade for Sarawak Energy as a direct result of its investment in hydropower development and focus on SCORE.
He said it has allowed SEB to support Sarawak’s economic growth and significantly transform Sarawak’s energy sector.
He said many important milestones were achieved during this period including the commissioning of the 944MW Murum Hydroelectric Plant as well as the delivery of Sarawak’s first interconnection to West Kalimantan, Indonesia.
He said during the past decade, SEB increased its installed generation capacity by 3.8 times to 5,233MW, with large hydropower contributing 3,452MW to the total capacity and increased its annual revenue by 3.6 times and reached the RM5 billion mark.
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