Singapore to import 1,000 MW power from Sarawak by 2032

SARAWAK is expected to export electricity of up to 1,000 megawatts (capping 1,000 megawatts) to Singapore by the year 2032.

Minister of Utilities and Telecommunications Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi announced that the project has been approved by both the Malaysian and Singaporean governments.

The project involves the installation of an undersea cable estimated to be 720km long, running from Tondong, Sarawak, all the way to Changi, Singapore.

The undersea cable interconnection will pass through the Muri-Midai corridor in Indonesia. This agreement on the Muri-Midai corridor was signed by Malaysia and Indonesia back in 1983.

It is estimated that 80 per cent of the cable will traverse the Muri-Midai corridor in Indonesia, while the remaining 20 per cent will pass through the maritime areas of Malaysia and Singapore.

“Singapore will underwrite the cost of this cable project,” he said when delivering his ministry’s winding-up speech in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) today.

He said since 2016, Sarawak has been exporting electricity to West Kalimantan with a nominated peak capacity of up to 230 megawatts under the regional cooperation initiative Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

“Additionally, an electricity sales agreement was signed with Sabah Electricity Sdn. Bhd. (SESB) in August 2021 to supply 30 megawatts of electricity to Sabah,

“At present, the amount of electricity exported is only an average of 2 percent out of a total capacity of 5,745 megawatts. Taking into account exports to Sabah and Singapore, by the year 2032, this percentage is expected to increase to an average of 12 per cent, which is equivalent to 1,130 megawatts from an estimated generation capacity of 9,529 megawatts,” he said.

“This means that by 2032, based on these projections, Sarawak will still have sufficient electricity, totalling 8,399 megawatts (88 per cent), for local use, including a reserve margin of around 22 to 25 per cent,” he added.

With this surplus electricity export, Sarawak has the opportunity to increase its income, supporting development efforts, including utility infrastructure, in alignment with Sarawak’s aspiration for progress by 2030, with the goal of establishing Sarawak as a renewable energy hub in the Asean region.

“In accordance with the PCDS 2030 plan, the target is to generate 15 perc ent of Sarawak’s electricity sector income from international markets through renewable energy sources,” he added.