Malaysia’s largest state Sarawak aims to be region’s ‘green battery’

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Sarawak began generating hydroelectricity several decades ago, and is currently building a fourth hydro-power plant.

PHOTO: AFP

Kuching - Malaysia’s verdant, river-crossed state of Sarawak is charging ahead with plans to become a regional “green battery”, but its renewable energy dreams could come at serious environmental cost, experts warn.

Wedged between peninsular Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and the Philippines, Sarawak’s leadership believes it could become a keystone in a regional energy transition.

Its many rivers and streams offer potentially abundant hydro-electricity and could one day power production of green hydrogen.

It is also installing solar and touting biomass to grow its renewable capacity, with Premier Abang Johari Tun Openg telling investors in Europe last week the state is “committed to a low-carbon and sustainable energy future”.

But environmental groups warn much of this green energy infrastructure contributes to deforestation and the displacement of Indigenous groups.

And for now, Sarawak’s main export is a fossil fuel: liquefied natural gas.

Sarawak began generating hydroelectricity several decades ago, and is currently building a fourth hydro-power plant.

They currently account for around 3,500 megawatts – enough to light about two to three million South-east Asian households daily.

Its first floating solar field is already producing around 50 megawatts, and more than a