Kota Kinabalu: Sabah must accelerate the adoption of renewable energy solutions, including solar power and battery energy storage systems, to reduce dependence on diesel and build a more sustainable energy future.
Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam said Sabah is blessed with abundant natural resources, particularly sunlight, which could be harnessed to provide cleaner, more reliable and affordable electricity.
“Energy is a fundamental requirement in modern life. Nothing moves without power. Our homes, our industries, our hospitals and schools, and almost anything that has a motor needs power to operate,” he said, at the “Powering Sabah Beyond Diesel” solar and battery energy storage showcase organised by BSL Eco Energy and Huawei, Sunday.
Joachim, who is also Sabah Works and Utilities Minister, said fossil fuels such as diesel and petrol remained among the most widely used energy sources but came with environmental costs.
He said global geopolitical uncertainties had also increased the challenges surrounding reliance on conventional energy sources.
“The solution presented today, solar power combined with battery energy storage, allows us to capture that resource and put it to work, delivering electricity that is cleaner, more reliable and increasingly affordable,” he said.
He said renewable energy solutions could bring greater benefits to rural communities by providing electricity access, connectivity and opportunities.
“For our businesses and industries, it means lower costs and greater competitiveness, and for our environment, it means a lower carbon footprint upon the land and waters that make Sabah so special,” he said.
Joachim said the initiative was aligned with the aspirations of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development plan and the State Government’s efforts to strengthen Sabah’s electricity supply industry.
“Through the Energy Commission of Sabah, we are building the framework to regulate, strengthen and modernise our electricity supply industry, expanding access, raising reliability and growing the share of renewable energy in our mix,” he said.
However, he said, the Government could not achieve the transformation alone and required collaboration with industry players and technology partners.
“It is the ingenuity and investment of companies like BSL Eco Energy, and the world-class technology of partners like Huawei, that will turn policy into power on the ground,” he said.
Joachim called on industry players, entrepreneurs and community leaders to work together with the State Government in developing energy solutions that benefit the people.
“Help us light up the last mile. Help us lower the cost of energy for the rakyat and for businesses.
“Together, we can move Sabah beyond diesel, not merely as a slogan, but as a reality,” he said.
