By Olivia Miwil
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has significant potential in renewable energy that could be developed in a planned and responsible manner.
However, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said the goal is not merely to increase the use of renewable energy.
"Sabah's energy sector must balance the needs of consumers and industry with environmental sustainability, technological development and the state's development direction.
"It is also to develop a strong, efficient and resilient energy system to support the state's long-term growth," he said when officiating at the Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS) engagement with the media at a hotel here.
Joniston said initiatives such as Solar Rakyat Sabah and the Sabah Energy Efficiency Action Plan (SEEAP), launched by ECoS in July this year, were important steps towards achieving that goal.
He added that those programmes provided opportunities for the people and business sector to participate in Sabah's energy agenda, manage energy use more efficiently and benefit from renewable energy development.
Sabah assumed regulatory powers through ECoS over onshore gas supply on Jan 10, 2023, followed by electricity and renewable energy on Jan 3, 2024.
Joniston said the transfer of regulatory powers was an important step in strengthening Sabah's ability to determine the direction of its energy sector according to the state's needs and priorities.
The ECoS Sabah Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2040 plans to achieve a 50 per cent renewable energy mix by 2035.
"Therefore, the relationship between ECoS and the media must be strengthened based on openness, professionalism, trust and a sense of responsibility towards the public interest," he said.
Present was ECoS chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Nasser.
Comments
Post a Comment