KUALA LUMPUR: The much-anticipated interconnection of power grids between Sabah and Sarawak is expected to materialise by the end of this year, marking a critical first step towards realising the Borneo Grid and, ultimately, the broader Asean Power Grid.
Energy Commission of Sabah (Ecos) Chief Executive Officer Datuk Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid described the development as “the beginning part, the starting point” of the total Borneo Grid.
Speaking at the Energy Asia 2025 parallel session titled “Energising Malaysia's Growth” held in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, Nasser said the grid linkage between the two Borneo states holds strategic value not only for Sabah and Sarawak but also for the region’s future power integration.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});“The Borneo future will be the Asean Power Grid connecting to other surrounding regions. The advantage, especially for Sabah, is our geographical position. We aim to capitalise on that to play a key role in the regional energy ecosystem - within and beyond Asean,” he said.
Also speaking during the same session was Sarawak Energy Group Chief Operating Officer James Ung Sing Kwong, who confirmed the planned interconnection between Sabah and Sarawak.
“As Datuk Nasser mentioned, we are targeting to connect with Sabah by the end of this year, enabling both states to share energy resources across Borneo,” said James.
He added that Sarawak Energy is also looking to build upon this connection by forging stronger energy ties with neighbouring Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia’s Kalimantan region - moves that would help lay the foundation for a seamless Borneo Grid.
“This Borneo Grid will then form part of the Asean Power Grid through further interconnections from Sarawak to the peninsula and Singapore,” he explained.
According to James, the broader vision is to build an integrated, cross-border energy network that facilitates the exchange of renewable energy and enhances grid stability across Southeast Asia.
“This is perhaps the bigger picture of what Sarawak Energy is aspiring to in the next 10 years - a truly interconnected Asean energy future,” he said.
James also recalled Sarawak’s earlier success in regional interconnectivity.
“In 2016, Sarawak Energy began interconnecting our systems with Western Kalimantan. Since then, we have been sharing approximately 100 to 150 megawatts of electricity regularly.”
The Sarawak–Western Kalimantan grid link marked a milestone in regional cooperation, enabling cross-border electricity trading and setting a precedent for the future Borneo and Asean power networks.
The Energy Asia conference, hosted by Petronas, has brought together top leaders, policymakers, and innovators to chart pathways for sustainable growth, decarbonisation, and energy security in Asia.
The Sabah–Sarawak grid link is seen as one of the tangible progress points emerging from regional collaboration.
With the Sabah–Sarawak grid interconnection on track for completion by year-end, both states are poised to enter a new era of energy cooperation - one that may soon extend beyond Borneo to power the broader Asean region.
