Premier: Sarawak pioneers renewable energy from grass, first in Southeast Asia

Abang Johari delivers his speech at the GeoWeek 2024 Conference held at a hotel in Kuching on Sept 24, 2024. Photo credit: Ukas

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Sept 24: Sarawak is set to make history once again by becoming the first state in Southeast Asia to introduce a method of generating renewable energy from grass.

According to a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news report, Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg announced that the cultivation of 800 acres of tropical hybrid grass in Bintulu is being used to produce biomass, a raw material for generating renewable energy that can be harvested every three months.

“We are the first in Southeast Asia to generate renewable energy from grass. This means that in Sarawak, we can grow grass and turn it into electricity.

“Traditionally, we’ve associated animals like buffalo or cows with energy production, but now Sarawak is taking a step further by producing electricity from grass, replacing coal as a biomass source,” he said.

Abang Johari made this announcement during his speech at the GeoWeek 2024 Conference held today at a local hotel here.

The Premier also highlighted that with this new method, the people of Sarawak can now choose whether to plant coconuts or grass to generate income.

He emphasised that landowners with suitable land can choose a commodity that will provide substantial earnings, lifting them out of poverty.

Also present at the event were Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development Sarawak, Datu Abdullah Julaihi, Sarawak Land and Survey Department director Awang Zamhari Awang Mahmood, Dean of the Faculty of Built Environment and Surveying at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Professor Dr Kherun Nita Ali, and other distinguished guests. — DayakDaily