Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg, Sarawak’s Premier, announced plans to replace coal usage at the Sejingkat and Balingian power plants with biomass, aligning with the state’s commitment to fostering clean and sustainable energy.
Addressing reporters following his attendance at the national-level World Water Day celebration at Kuching Waterfront, Abang Johari emphasized that this transition would not only mitigate carbon emissions but also yield economic advantages.
He referenced his recent visit to the Drax facility in the United Kingdom, where he observed the successful conversion of a coal-powered plant to biomass energy.
“At Drax, they previously relied on coal but have since switched to biomass. The transition investment is relatively modest due to the similarities in systems,” he noted.
Abang Johari outlined plans to replicate this model at Sejinkat and Balingian by phasing out coal usage and utilizing biomass for power generation.
He elaborated that utilizing wood waste as an alternative to coal could potentially generate over 500 megawatts of power. By reinforcing the boiler system and motor machinery, Abang Johari projected that the Sejingkat plant could even reach a capacity of one gigawatt.
