SINGAPORE: The Sarawak Government continues to demonstrate its strong commitment to supporting low-carbon industrial transformation with the upcoming launch of the Bintulu Transitioning Industrial Cluster (TIC).

Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg said the launch of the Bintulu TIC, an initiative implemented in collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF), will take place in Kuching next month.

He said the transition is not merely an effort to decarbonise one plant or facility at a time, but rather a strategic approach to reorganising and transforming the entire industrial system towards a low-carbon future.

“The Bintulu-Samalaju corridor is now home to gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), petrochemical, hydrogen, fertiliser and renewable energy industries.

“The TIC aligns all of these under a single low-carbon industrial vision, namely hydrogen production, carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), circular economy practices and digital manufacturing operating as one system. This reduces risks and accelerates implementation,” he said.

He said this while delivering a keynote address titled ‘Sarawak and the Region: A Green Economy Being Built in Real Time’ at the Philanthropy Asia Summit 2026 held at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands, here on Monday.

According to the Premier of Sarawak, the state government’s collaboration with the WEF on the Bintulu TIC project is crucial as it will bring together a network of global experts to facilitate knowledge transfer and open up new avenues for collaboration, ensuring the cluster is developed based on world-class sustainability and governance standards.

“This provides confidence that reduces investment risks and accelerates progress. It signals to the world that Sarawak is not merely adopting best practices, but is also co-creating them,” he said.

Previously, the selection of Bintulu as Malaysia’s first TIC by the WEF was announced by the Sarawak Premier while delivering a keynote address at the World Hydrogen Asia Conference 2025 in Tokyo.

Speaking further, Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari explained that Sarawak successfully reduced its electricity grid emissions intensity by 73 per cent from 2010 to 2022 through a planned transition towards renewable hydropower.

He added that Sarawak has also surpassed its 2030 target of achieving 60 per cent renewable energy in installed capacity.

“The 1,285-megawatt Baleh Hydroelectric Project is expected to commence operations by 2030. We are scaling up capacity to 10 gigawatts by 2030 and 15 gigawatts by 2035,” he said.

Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari added that Sarawak is also undertaking a broader transformation beyond the energy sector by expanding its economy while gradually reducing carbon emissions.

He said Sarawak is now emerging as a net-negative state by leveraging its forests and land to absorb more carbon than what is emitted by the state’s economy.

“Our key challenge is not merely achieving net zero, but maintaining net-negative status while the economy continues to grow and industrialise.

“That is why the Sarawak Net Zero Strategy and Carbon Plan focus on how economic growth is carried out, reducing carbon emissions while creating new industries, generating quality jobs, strengthening economic competitiveness and supporting long-term sustainable growth,” he further explained.

Also present were Deputy Sarawak Secretary (Economic Planning and Development) Dato Sri Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel, Group Chief Executive Officer of Sarawak Energy Datuk Sharbini Suhaili, Acting Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Sarawak Ts Dr Nurleyna Yunus and Acting Chief Executive Officer of Sarawak Water Sdn Bhd Malseni Jamal. -UKASnews