Sarawak Energy cops 12th annual global CSR platinum award

23 / 09 / 2020

By Marwa Nassar - -

Sarawak Energy’s emerging leadership in sustainability and community development initiatives received the platinum of the 12th Annual Global Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Awards in addition to another platinum of Good Governance Awards 2020.

Malaysia’s largest renewable energy developer and Sarawak’s primary power utility, Sarawak Energy was awarded Platinum under the ‘Excellence in Provision for Literacy & Education’ category for its Belaga Penan Education Fund. Group Chief Executive Officer, Datu Haji Sharbini Suhaili was also awarded Platinum under ‘The Best Chief Executive Officer’ category.

The Belaga Penan Education Fund was set up in 2015 in consultation and partnership with the Penan communities in Belaga to support the needs of the younger generation through education and skills training.

Datu Haji Sharbini received the top award under ‘The Best Chief Executive Officer’ category for his role in driving the Group’s sustainability agenda through initiatives aligned with United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Commenting on the awards, Sharbini said, “This prestigious international level recognition was made possible with the support and guidance of Sarawak Government and the Ministry of Utilities and the dedication of our 5,200 employees.”

Sharbini continued, “Despite Sarawak’s steady economic development and an industry-driven increase in energy consumption, the development of renewable hydropower to power this growth has seen the decarbonisation of electricity supply, recording a decrease of about 77% in grid carbon intensity since 2010.”

“We will continue in our efforts to integrate sustainability in our decision making as well as how we manage and operate our business as a responsible renewable energy provider, to make sure we build a sustainable energy future for the next generation,” he concluded.

Sarawak Energy Senior Vice President for Corporate Services, Hajah Siti Aisah Adenan said when also commenting on the awards, “Education and young people is a vital area and pillar of our Corporate Social Responsibility strategy. We recognise the importance of education in spurring the growth of the communities in the areas we operate in. We would like to thank the beneficiary communities for their support and cooperation, without whom these initiatives would not be able to run smoothly.”

“The Belaga Penan Education Fund is a revolving fund of RM200,000 which was developed with the Bakun Charitable Trust and the Penan community near our Murum HEP and Bakun HEP through early and proactive engagement in line with the International Hydropower Association Sustainability Protocols, as well as the UN SDGs,” she added.

In December 2019, Sarawak Energy together with Ministry of Utilities Sarawak organised the inaugural Sustainability and Renewable Energy Forum (SAREF) which served as a platform for greater discussion on sustainability and renewable energy and how different stakeholders can work together to deliver the United Nations SDGs by 2030. The two-day forum saw industry experts and champions of sustainability converging in Kuching to discuss how governments, energy developers, utilities and communities can work together to build a sustainable energy future.