Arlington, VA – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency awarded a grant to Malaysia’s Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) for technical assistance to facilitate the utility’s digital transformation. This will advance the integration of more renewable energy onto Sarawak’s power grid and help provide reliable clean energy for 2.5 million people, while also powering neighboring countries through the Borneo Grid. SEB selected non-profit energy research and development institute EPRI to carry out the assistance. USTDA and SEB signed the grant agreement in a ceremony held at the 5th Indo-Pacific Business Forum in Tokyo, Japan.
“Around the world, we have seen the transformative impact of digital infrastructure on achieving ambitious clean energy, energy efficiency, and other climate-related goals. Our partnership with Sarawak Energy is intended to support their vision of sustainable growth by meeting the region’s need for reliable, renewable energy,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director. “At the same time, we see opportunities to mobilize U.S. technical innovation in support of their goals.”
USTDA’s technical assistance will assess the current status of SEB’s digital landscape and support their existing strategic roadmap to enable the adoption of smart grid and digital power plant technologies, enhance efficiency, increase cybersecurity, and meet growing connectivity commitments and service reliability requirements to drive sustainable economic growth in Malaysia.
“SEB expresses gratitude to USTDA for this new partnership and welcomes EPRI’s technical support,” said Datu Sharbini Bin Suhaili, Group CEO of Sarawak Energy Berhad. “SEB is confident that USTDA’s assistance, together with EPRI’s guidance, will bring successful outcomes and sustainable growth. Digitalized management of our utility will further enable SEB’s already robust renewable energy resources and forward-thinking approach to adopt technology and rapidly modernize our grid and power plants through advanced integrated digital solutions.”
USTDA’s support for this project advances the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, with the goal of developing, expanding, and deploying secure digital infrastructure to power economic growth and facilitate open digital societies.
“EPRI is pleased to assist Sarawak in the modernizing of its grid, as this fits with our society-based mission to ensure the public has clean, safe, reliable, affordable, and equitable access to electricity across the globe,” said EPRI President and CEO Arshad Mansoor. “USTDA’s investment could serve as a catalyst for further cooperation between Malaysia and the U.S. private sector to advance sustainable economic development and the clean energy transition.”
###
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority infrastructure projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership building activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries.
MEDIA INQUIRIES: Paul Marin | (703) 875-4357