KUCHING: Sabah has signed an agreement to purchase electricity from Sarawak generated by combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power.

Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg said Sabah and Sarawak have signed an agreement for the supply of 50 megawatts (MW), with Sabah requesting an increase to 100MW.

He noted that discussions with the Brunei Darussalam Government on a similar arrangement are still ongoing.

"What will happen is that in 2027, the CCGT will be completed, utilising 30 per cent hydrogen, which can be increased to 50 per cent.

“With a supply of 500MW, we will be able to provide electricity to our neighbours as well as northern Sarawak because, by that year, we will increase our power supply by 500MW from Miri, while Bintulu will have three CCGTs capable of generating 2,000MW of power.

“Additionally, by 2030, we will generate power through ‘planting solar’, producing 10 gigawatts (GW) of energy. This will allow us to supply electricity to our neighbours and for our own use, driven by the investments made in Sarawak at that time,” he said.

He said this when met by reporters after the 'Majlis Amanat Perdana Premier Sarawak 2025' at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching on Monday.

For Brunei Darussalam, Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari clarified that discussions are still underway with the terms for purchasing electricity yet to be finalised.

In addition, the Sarawak Premier said that Sarawak has adopted methylcyclohexane (MCH) technology which is a hydrogen carrier in liquid form produced through the chemical reaction of hydrogen and toluene.

He explained that MCH technology could potentially replace existing energy sources worldwide including oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

"This technology can become a new energy alternative, and it will continue to develop.

"Instead of nuclear reactors; Japan will reduce its reliance on nuclear power, making this a new technology. If we can master and produce this technology, we can become one of its major global producers,” he explained. -UKASnews