NEWS & UPDATE

China
10 June 2025

The Sarawak Government, through the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication Sarawak, has formalised a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Three Gorges International Ltd (CGTI) and Shanghai Electric Power T&D Group Co. Ltd at the 2025 International Solar Photovoltaic and Smart Energy Conference (SNEC PV Expo) in Shanghai, today.

The MoU sets the framework for the Sarawak Government, China Three Gorges International Ltd and Shanghai Electric Power T&D Group Co. Ltd. to jointly undertake various studies and collaborate to explore the potential development of floating solar, with a capacity not exceeding 1,000MW, on the reservoir of the Bakun Hydroelectric Plant (HEP).

The signatories of the MoU were Datu Jafri Lias, Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication Sarawak; Zhang Kai Hong, Vice President for China Three Gorges International Limited and Yang Xing Hai, Vice President for Shanghai Electric Power T&D Group Co. Ltd.

Deputy Minister for Utility (Sarawak Energy and Petros) and Chairman of Sarawak Energy, The Honourable Dato Haji Ibrahim Haji Baki, represented The Premier of Sarawak, The Right Honourable Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg at the signing ceremony where he witnessed the signing together with His Excellency Gong Zheng, Mayor of Shanghai, along with other dignitaries.

Also present was a delegation from Sarawak Energy, led by its Group CEO, Datuk Haji Sharbini Suhaili.

Delivering the Premier of Sarawak’s keynote address at the event, The Honourable Dato Haji Ibrahim said: “Sarawak is pleased to forge this strategic alliance with strong industry partners like CTGI and Shanghai Electric, as it supports our aim of ensuring energy security and environmental sustainability. Sarawak currently has a generation capacity of about 5,900MW, predominantly from renewable hydropower sources. By 2030, Sarawak targets a 10GW generation capacity, and 15GW by 2035, with renewable sources making up over 60% of the capacity mix. With its vast renewable energy resources, Sarawak has the potential to become a renewable energy powerhouse of the region.”

The keynote further outlined Sarawak’s progressive renewable energy policies that are accelerating the state’s energy transition. Recent amendments to the Electricity Ordinance in 2023 further underscores Sarawak’s commitment to decarbonisation, with enabling provisions for large-scale solar development, consumer-generated electricity, and independent power producer participation.

Highlighting Sarawak’s growing focus on solar energy, the Premier’s address presented the State’s approach, which includes solar-hybrid rural electrification, hydrogen-integrated solar systems, and the Net Energy Metering (NEM) scheme to support solar adoption in housing developments.

Sarawak successfully generated power from its first large-scale solar installation at the Batang Ai HEP in December 2024. The 50MW floating solar farm, spanning over 190 hectares of the Batang Ai reservoir also marks Sarawak’s first integrated hydroelectric and solar power scheme. He added that this initiative would pave the way for further development of floating solar in Sarawak at other hydropower reservoirs through privately funded investments.

The MOU signing was held in conjunction with the SNEC PV+ 18th International Photovoltaic Power Generation and Smart Energy Conference & Exhibition, which is being held from June 10 to 13 2025, at the National Exhibition and Convention Centre in Shanghai, China. The event is known as the world's largest and most influential PV trade show, attracting more than 3,000 exhibitors from 95 countries.

The MoU sets the framework for the Sarawak Government, China Three Gorges International Ltd and Shanghai Electric Power T&D Group Co. Ltd. to jointly undertake various studies and collaborate to explore the potential development of floating solar, with a capacity not exceeding 1,000MW, on the reservoir of the Bakun Hydroelectric Plant (HEP).

Delivering the Premier of Sarawak’s keynote address at the event, The Honourable Dato Haji Ibrahim said: “Sarawak is pleased to forge this strategic alliance with strong industry partners like CTGI and Shanghai Electric, as it supports our aim of ensuring energy security and environmental sustainability. Sarawak currently has a generation capacity of about 5,900MW, predominantly from renewable hydropower sources.