Serawak Energy signs LoI with North Kalimantan province

Serawak Energy Bhd (SEB), Malaysia?s Serawak state-government owned utility, signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Indonesia?s North Kalimantan (Kaltara) province on Wednesday night, formalizing an agreement to explore partnership opportunities in power opportunities in power generation projects and strategy formulation to improve the power supply infrastructure in Kaltara, theborneopost.com reported.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by the Minister of Public Utilities of Sarawak, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan. Signing on behalf of SEB was its group chief executive officer Datuk Torstein Dale Sjotveit while Dr. H. Irianto Lambrie, the Governor of North Kalimantan inked the agreement for the Government of North Kalimantan.

?Our tremendous development, our business achievements and active participation at regional and international energy forums are now gaining international attention and have opened doors for business expansion in the region,? Torstein said following the signing ceremony.

?We now have the opportunity to demonstrate our capabilities and capacity in managing and developing power projects outside Sarawak.?

He noted in his text speech that this also opens the door for professionals in SEB to practice their skills and knowledge outside the country.

Irianto highlighted in his speech that they would like to learn from Sarawak?s successful experience, to turn 15,000 megawatts (MW) of potential hydropower in Kaltara to become useful renewable and sustainable power energy resources.

He added that they wish to learn from Sarawak on how to develop energy mix from coal, oil and gas resources to ensure the steady supply of power.

According to Irianto, he strongly believes the cooperation agreement they signed will become the milestone for their economy in the coming years.

?North Kalimantan will become an efficient power center of Indonesia with the support of Sarawak Energy, our dream to develop Borneo grid as part of the Asean grid will move one step further after Sarawak?s successful power transmission to west Kalimantan, and the signing of this LoI.

?This cooperation has taken place at the right crucial time, the first year of Asean Economy area, the free flow of energy power and cooperation will become part of the Asean cooperation program,? he said. (*)