Kuala Lumpur: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on Sarawak to begin exporting its excess electricity to the southern Philippines via Sabah starting next year. Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg revealed that the electricity would be sourced from a 500-megawatt (MW) combined cycle gas turbine power plant in Miri, in addition to three other plants in Bintulu with a combined capacity of 1,500 MW. “Our excess supply (of electricity) will be sent to Sabah, and the prime minister has asked us to send it from Sabah to the southern part of the Philippines, meaning we are supplying energy within ASEAN. This is our strength,” he stated.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Abang Johari shared these plans during the Affin Bank Chinese New Year Dinner event. He emphasized Sarawak’s ongoing initiatives to produce more synthetic gas for energy generation, which aligns with its aim to become a significant energy producer in the ASEAN region. He remarked that the endeavor represents a sustainable approach that could contribute substantially to the ASEAN energy grid.

During the event, Abang Johari also called on Affin Bank to hasten the opening of its regional office in Sarawak. He highlighted that establishing the regional office would enable more industry players and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to access the bank’s financial services.