Energy sector critical in Sabah's economic development
Masidi (fifth right) with the organisers at the opening of SAREC 2025 on Thursday.
KOTA KINABALU (Apr 24): The energy sector will continue to play a critical role in Sabah's future economic development, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor.
He said the State Government had launched the Sabah Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2040 (Sabah Energy RAMP 2040), which was aimed at charting the way forward and outlining key priorities for the state energy sector.
'With this in place, Sabah should be able to fully develop its green energy sector with the potential of providing up to 75 per cent of the nation's green energy supply.
'The State Government looks forward to the continued cooperation and support of all stakeholders in driving Sabah towards a greener and more sustainable future,' he said at the Sabah Renewable Energy Conference 2025: Corridor to Transform Vision to Reality (SAREC 2025) at the Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort here on Thursday.
Finance Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun read his speech.
He said Sabah is endowed with an abundance of renewable energy sources that have the potential to offer strong prospects of contributing significantly to both the state and nation's transformation into a high value-added economy.
'The energy sector has been a critical engine of growth for Sabah's economy over the past decades, contributing significantly to the State's economy.
'It is my aspiration to see Sabah's energy sector continuing to grow whilst contributing to positive social outcomes to uplift the quality of life of the people,' he said.
Hajiji said the State Government has been aggressively pushing its agenda in encouraging renewable energy and the development of clean energy by implementing programmes that would help promote economic activities and accelerate economic growth to ultimately shape and strengthen Sabah's renewable energy and green industry sector.
'The State Government will continue to develop the necessary infrastructure related to the energy sector. We have been steadfast in our pursuit of taking control and managing the State's energy resources to empower Sabah to develop and continuously grow the energy sector more effectively and efficiently,' he said.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the State Government had identified a new economic sector – the Blue Economy that involves sustainable exploration of Sabah's incredible marine and coastal resources.
He said in April last year, the Sabah State Legislative Assembly approved the new Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Enactment 2024, paving the way for the development of OTEC as a new source of renewable energy and as one of the initiatives under the Blue Economy.
Hajiji commended Qhazanah Sabah Berhad and the Malaysian Rating Corporation Berhad for bringing SAREC 2025 to fruition.
'The State Government is ready to collaborate with all stakeholders to unite efforts, exchange ideas and explore solutions,' he said.
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