Awg Tengah: Sarawak to engage with int'l industry leaders in renewable energy, sustainable investments
Handout photo shows the Sarawak delegation (right) during the meeting with TotalEnergies in Paris.
KUCHING (May 8): Sarawak has reinforced its commitment to global clean energy cooperation following a high-level meeting with TotalEnergies at the company's headquarters in Paris, France on Wednesday.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the Sarawak government is determined to engage with international industry leaders in renewable energy and sustainable investments.
During the discussion, he highlighted the state's significant renewable energy potential, particularly its extensive hydropower resources with a potential capacity of up to 20 gigawatts (GW).
In a statement today, the Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment also shared details about Sarawak's existing renewable initiatives, notably the successful 50-megawatt pilot floating solar project at Batang Ai, as well as efforts to explore bioenergy, biomass, and sustainable hydrogen production.
He said during the meeting, TotalEnergies head of business development coordination (Onshore Renewables) Thibaut Toulemonde outlined the company's ambition to become one of the world's top five renewable energy producers by 2030.
'This goal is supported by a global renewable energy portfolio totalling 97GW, with 62GW currently under development.
'Additionally, TotalEnergies is actively involved in advanced hydrogen and carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) projects globally,' he said.
The meeting identified mutual interests in hydropower, solar energy, hydrogen production, and CCUS.
Awang Tengah emphasised Sarawak's readiness for CCUS development— particularly in the Bintulu region—supported by established regulatory frameworks that facilitate investment and collaboration.
As a follow-up to the meeting, Sarawak's investment promotion agency InvestSarawak has been tasked with coordinating the areas of collaboration discussed, including arrangements for TotalEnergies' visit to Sarawak in the coming months.
Awang Tengah invited the company to return and continue collaboration, reaffirming the state government's commitment to providing a stable, business-friendly environment to foster sustainable growth and investment.
TotalEnergies is a global integrated energy company that produces and markets energies. Awang Tengah clean energy Paris TotalEnergies
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
5 days ago
- Malay Mail
TotalEnergies on trial: Greenwashing claims could set legal precedent in France
PARIS, June 6 — Environmental groups took TotalEnergies to court yesterday in a landmark Paris trial, accusing the French oil and gas giant of misleading consumers with ads that overstate its climate commitments and fossil fuel transition. It is the first such case in France targeting a major energy company and could set a legal precedent for corporate environmental advertising, which is starting to face tighter regulations in the European Union. The civil case stems from a March 2022 lawsuit by three environmental groups accusing TotalEnergies of 'misleading commercial practices' for saying it could reach carbon neutrality while continuing oil and gas production. The plaintiffs took that legal route as 'greenwashing', or the act of claiming to be more environmentally responsible than in reality, is not specifically covered under French law. Starting in May 2021, TotalEnergies advertised its goal of 'carbon neutrality by 2050' and touted gas as 'the fossil fuel with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions'. At the time, the company had changed its name from Total to TotalEnergies to emphasise its investments in wind turbines and solar panels for electricity production. The plaintiffs allege that TotalEnergies made around 40 'false advertisements' in their lawsuit. 'For the average consumer, it is impossible to understand that TotalEnergies is actually expanding fossil fuel production,' said Clementine Baldon, a lawyer for the NGOs. The company's strategy 'will not help the energy transition', Baldon told the court. 'It delays it, even prevents it, and it contributes to putting the objectives of the Paris accord at risk,' she added, referring to the international agreement aimed at curbing climate change. TotalEnergies maintains it has not engaged in misleading commercial practices. 'Greenwashing would be to promise that the petrol sold in service stations is carbon neutral,' said the company's lawyer, Francoise Labrousse. TotalEnergies had 'never said its products are good for the climate', she added. TotalEnergies also insisted that the messages are part of its institutional communications regulated by financial authorities and not consumer law. It also argued the NGOs are misusing consumer protection rules to challenge its corporate strategy, and that no consumer organisation is party to the case. The NGOs want the Paris court to rule on the legality of ads presenting natural gas as essential to the energy transition. Climate experts say methane leaks from the gas industry have a powerful warming effect on the atmosphere. But TotalEnergies noted Greenpeace Belgium had previously considered natural gas useful for the energy transition and noted the group still uses fossil fuels in its boats. Correcting ads Environmental groups in recent years have turned to the courts to establish case law on companies misleading consumers by appearing more eco-friendly than they are. In Europe, courts ruled against Dutch airline KLM in 2024 and Germany's Lufthansa in March over misleading consumers about their efforts to reduce the environmental impact of flying. In Spain, utility Iberdrola failed to secure a conviction against Spanish oil and gas company Repsol over similar allegations of 'false' environmental claims. A greenwashing case against Australian oil and gas producer Santos, challenging its claim to be a 'clean fuels' company, has been ongoing since 2021. Other fossil fuel companies, under pressure from advertising regulators or legal complains, have had to scrap or correct ad campaigns. Shell, for example, received a warning in the UK and had to stop promoting 'carbon-neutral' gasoline in several countries, including Germany, the Netherlands and Canada. New European laws now ban vague, generic environmental claims such as 'green' or '100 per cent natural' product, and aim to require brands to more strictly substantiate environmental claims on labels and in advertising. TotalEnergies has said it plans to show that its messages 'about its name change, strategy and role in the energy transition are reliable and based on objective, verifiable data'. At the end of the hearing, the judge said a ruling would be given on October 23. — AFP
Free Malaysia Today
6 days ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Uganda takes control of 2 DRC towns
Rwanda backs the M23 armed group that has taken huge swathes of the mineral-rich eastern DRC in recent months. (EPA Images pic) NAIROBI : The Ugandan army said today it had taken control of the Democratic Republic of Congo towns of Kasenyi and Tchomia to 'prevent inter-ethnic fighting'. While Rwanda backs the M23 armed group that has taken huge swathes of the mineral-rich eastern DRC in recent months, neighbouring Uganda has played a more complex role. Uganda has worked alongside the DRC government to fight Islamist insurgents in the region. But analysts say it is also keen to secure economic advantages, including control of Congolese gold mines and wider trade. Chris Magezi, spokesman for the Uganda people's defence forces (UPDF), posted a video on X saying it showed 'UPDF troops being welcomed in Kasenyi, DRC, today'. 'We occupied it and Tchomia today to prevent inter-ethnic fighting and to protect the population,' he added. Both are towns in DRC's Ituri province, on the vast Lake Albert that separates Uganda and DRC and is the site of a massive oil exploration project being constructed by Uganda with French firm TotalEnergies and the China National Offshore Oil Corporation. In February, Uganda said it had 'taken control' of security in the Ituri provincial capital, Bunia.
Free Malaysia Today
6 days ago
- Free Malaysia Today
TotalEnergies on trial in landmark greenwashing case in France
Since 2021, TotalEnergies advertised its goal of 'carbon neutrality by 2050' and touted gas as 'the fossil fuel with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions'. (AFP pic) PARIS : French oil and gas giant TotalEnergies goes on trial in Paris today over allegations of misleading climate claims, an unprecedented 'greenwashing' case against a fossil fuel firm in France. The civil case stems from a March 2022 lawsuit by three environmental groups accusing the French energy giant of 'misleading commercial practices' for saying it could reach carbon neutrality while continuing oil and gas production. Starting in May 2021, TotalEnergies advertised its goal of 'carbon neutrality by 2050' and touted gas as 'the fossil fuel with the lowest greenhouse gas emissions'. At the time, the company had also changed its name from Total to TotalEnergies to emphasise its investments in low-carbon energy, such as electricity. The plaintiffs have logged around 40 'false advertisements' in their lawsuit. The ads 'don't sincerely reflect the reality of TotalEnergies' operations', Apolline Cagnat, a legal counsel at Greenpeace, told AFP. Cagnat said the NGOs want the court to send a 'strong signal' to fossil fuel companies by ordering 'an immediate stop, under penalty, of the misleading commercial practices'. TotalEnergies disputes the charges, insisting the messages are part of its institutional communication, regulated by financial authorities – not consumer law. It argues no consumer organisation is party to the case, and that the NGOs are misusing consumer protection rules to challenge its corporate strategy. Environmental groups in recent years have turned to the courts to establish case law on companies misleading consumers by appearing more eco-friendly than they are. In Europe, courts ruled against Dutch airline KLM in 2024 and Germany's Lufthansa in March over misleading consumers about their efforts to reduce the environmental impact of flying. In Spain, utility Iberdrola failed to secure a conviction against Spanish oil and gas company Repsol over similar allegations of 'false' environmental claims. A greenwashing case against Australian oil and gas producer Santos, challenging its claim to be a 'clean fuels' company, has been ongoing since 2021. Based on a EU directive targeting unfair commercial practices, the TotalEnergies lawsuit is the first time a French court has heard such a case against a fossil fuel company. The NGOs said the Paris court will rule, for the first time in the world, on the legality of ads presenting gas as essential to the energy transition. Climate experts say methane leaks from the gas industry have a powerful warming effect on the atmosphere. TotalEnergies maintains it has not engaged in misleading commercial practices. The company says it plans to show that its messages 'about its name change, strategy and role in the energy transition are reliable and based on objective, verifiable data'.
