Kuala lumpur: The government will intensify efforts to strengthen the national energy mix to ensure electricity supply security amid extreme weather changes, which are beginning to affect existing resources, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. The Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister emphasized the need to reduce reliance on any single energy source, particularly hydropower, due to its dependence on rainfall patterns.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fadillah highlighted that unpredictable weather patterns could lead to lower water levels in dams, risking electricity supply stability without strong alternative sources. "We cannot depend on a single source, whether hydro or gas. Instead, we need to expand other sectors such as biofuel, biomass, as well as solar and wind energy," he stated. He noted the current low water levels at Batang Ai as an example of how prolonged lack of rain could affect hydropower supply.
Fadillah also discussed the 50-megawatt (MW) floating solar project at the Batang Ai Hydroelectric Dam, describing it as a strategic initiative to balance power generation in Sarawak and support the existing grid. He explained that integrating hydro and solar technologies not only enhances renewable energy efficiency but also strengthens the country's resilience amid global energy market uncertainties and rising demand from high-tech industries.
"The future of the country depends on who can control and produce their own energy resources. With close cooperation between the federal government, state government, and utility companies like Sarawak Energy (SEB), we can remain competitive in the future," Fadillah added. The PETRA Skuad outreach programme (fifth series) aims to monitor water and energy sector projects to ensure development planning stays on schedule for public benefit.
Earlier, nearly 100 senior officials from the ministry and related agencies began their monitoring mission in Sarawak, following successful tours in Melaka, the East Coast Zone, and Sabah since 2024.