SAREF 4.0 closes with bold vision for Borneo as ASEAN’s energy hub
- BT
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
KUCHING, 4 September 2025 – The Sustainability and Renewable Energy Forum (SAREF 4.0) concluded today at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here. Regional leaders, energy experts, and changemakers came together for a closing ceremony that was both reflective and forward-looking.
A key highlight this afternoon was a fireside address by Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister, Dato' Sri Haji Fadillah bin Haji Yusof, who is also the Minister of Energy Transition & Water Transformation (PETRA). Speaking at the fireside address, Fadillah presented a bold and ambitious plan for the Borneo Grid as a vital component of the ASEAN Power Grid.
“Part of the ASEAN Power Grid will be what we call the Borneo Grid. To make that a reality, Borneo must be fully connected,” he said.
The Deputy Prime Minister also highlighted Sarawak’s hydropower capacity and its trajectory toward surplus generation by 2030.
“Sarawak already supplies power to West Kalimantan. By 2030, we’ll have excess capacity enough to supply Sabah and Brunei as well. Kalimantan is also developing its own hydropower. With all these sources coming online, Borneo will become the energy hub for Southeast Asia,” he enthused.
Fadillah also shared plans for undersea cable infrastructure to link Sarawak to Johor, with potential extensions to Singapore. Energy from Borneo could flow to Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and even up to South Philippines.
“The Philippines is actually looking forward to that,” he said.
He acknowledged funding as a key challenge, but said, “We’ve received commitments from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. They’ve allocated US$12 billion for ASEAN’s green projects, including the power grid.”
Earlier at the closing ceremony, Sarawak Energy Group CEO and SAREF 4.0 Chairman, Datu Haji Sharbini Suhaili delivered a closing speech that reflected a commitment to the shared goals of sustainability, regional cooperation, and responsible growth.
“As we close SAREF 4.0, let us carry forward the energy, the partnership, and the vision that we have built here in Kuching,” he said.
“Together, we shall continue advancing towards a more sustainable, resilient, and prosperous region one that balances growth, responsibility, and prosperity with care to our environment,” he added.
“Let us leave here not with a sense of completion,” he said, “but with a renewed determination to continue the journey for sustainability, for partnership, and for the future of our region and the world.”
Meanwhile, the closing ceremony also witnessed presentation of the 5th ASEAN Energy Youth Awards (AEYA) 2025 to the top three winners in each of the three categories, namely ‘Innovation Lab Track: Policy Pitch’, ‘Creative Advocacy Track: Video’, and ‘Creative Advocacy Track: Infographic’.
SAREF 4.0 has been a meeting of minds, a convergence of ambition, and a reaffirmation of regional solidarity. Held over two days in Kuching (Sept 3 and 4, 2025), it brought together policymakers, energy leaders, youth innovators, and community voices to explore the mechanics of sustainability and the human stories behind it.
Themed ‘Partnerships for Our Goals Sustainable Growth & Prosperity for the Region’, SAREF 4.0 was organised by Sarawak Energy, as part of its flagship initiative to advance sustainability and regional energy collaboration. The event was supported by the Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication Sarawak and the Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability.
