KOTA KINABALU: The energy sector will continue to play a vital role in the future economic development of Sabah, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor.
He stated that the State Government has launched the Sabah Energy Master Plan and Direction 2040 (Sabah Energy RAMP 2040), aimed at charting the path and outlining key priorities for the state’s energy sector.
“With this, Sabah will be able to fully develop its green energy sector, with the potential to provide up to 75 percent of the country’s green energy supply. The State Government hopes for continued collaboration and support from all stakeholders in driving Sabah towards a greener and more sustainable future,” he said at the Sabah Renewable Energy Conference 2025: A Corridor to Transform Vision into Reality (SAREC 2025) held at the Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort today.
The Chief Minister’s speech was delivered by the Minister of Finance, Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun. He noted that Sabah is blessed with abundant renewable energy resources, which offer solid prospects for significantly contributing to the transformation of both the state and the country towards a high-impact economy.
“The energy sector has been a critical engine of growth for Sabah’s economy over the past few decades, making substantial contributions to the state’s economy. It is my hope to see the energy sector in Sabah continue to grow while delivering positive social impacts to enhance the quality of life for the people,” he remarked.
Hajiji further stated that the State Government has aggressively pursued its agenda in promoting renewable energy and clean energy development by implementing programmes that will help stimulate economic activity and accelerate economic growth, thereby shaping and strengthening Sabah’s renewable energy and green industry sectors.
“The State Government will continue to develop the necessary infrastructure related to the energy sector. We remain steadfast in our efforts to take charge of and manage the state’s energy resources to empower Sabah to develop and expand the energy sector more effectively and efficiently,” he said.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the State Government has identified a new economic sector— the Blue Economy—which involves the sustainable exploration of Sabah’s marine and coastal resources.
He mentioned that the Sabah State Assembly approved the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Enactment 2024 last April, paving the way for the development of OTEC as a renewable energy source and as part of the Blue Economy initiative.
Hajiji commended Qhazanah Sabah Berhad and the Malaysian Rating Corporation Berhad for successfully organising SAREC 2025.
“The State Government is ready to collaborate with all stakeholders to unify efforts, exchange ideas, and explore solutions,” he concluded.-pr/BNN
