KUCHING: Sarawak is considering employing powerships, cutting-edge floating power plants capable of generating between 36 MW and 470 MW of electricity, to bridge the state’s energy gap ahead of the completion of its Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) plant.
The technology was proposed by Karpowership, a subsidiary of Turkey’s Karadeniz Energy Group, during a meeting hosted by the Ministry of International Trade, Industry, and Investment at Wisma Sumber Alam on Wednesday (Nov 27).
The delegation was led by Karpowership board member and proprietor Dogan Karadeniz and commercial operations director for Asia, Tolga Bayav.
Also present were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan who is International Trade, Industry, and Investment Minister, his deputy Datuk Dr Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, adviser Datuk Seri Mohd Naroden Majais, permanent secretary Dzulkornain Macron, and InvestSarawak CEO Timothy Ong.
In a statement the ministry said these powerships offer reliable short-to-medium-term energy solutions and can be deployed within just two months.
They are capable of utilising LNG, diesel, or fuel oil and can be stationed strategically at locations such as the SEDC-Petchem 3km Jetty to serve industrial hubs like Bintulu and Samalaju.
“Their “Plug-and-Play” flexibility supports Sarawak’s renewable energy goals by complementing existing power infrastructure, facilitating the state’s target of achieving 60 per cent renewable energy without decommissioning current power plants,” it said.
The company also expressed interest in collaborating on floating solar and hydrogen technologies.
Besides the powership fleet, they elaborated on their floating gas infrastructure, which includes LNG carriers and Floating Storage and Regasification Units (FSRUs).
Similar to powerships, this gas infrastructure can be deployed within short time frames, enabling LNG to be supplied to potential consumption locations.
Additionally, discussions explored potential shipyard partnerships to diversify Sarawak’s shipbuilding capabilities and enhance local employment opportunities.
The company also expressed its intent to invest in the local shipbuilding industry while advancing hydrogen and ammonia technologies to further decarbonise energy operations.
“We are optimistic about the solutions presented by Karpowership. Their expertise in immediate power supply and renewable technology is essential to Sarawak’s energy transition strategy,” said Awang Tengah.
Meanwhile, Arkadiah Restores Sdn Bhd, a Singapore-based environmental technology firm, in partnership with Paramount Technology Sdn Bhd, presented its innovative vision for harnessing Sarawak’s carbon credit potential.
It introduced its advanced digital Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (dMRV) system, which integrates geospatial technology to enhance transparency and efficiency in forest restoration initiatives.
The dMRV system employs metadata and timestamps for individual trees, significantly reducing manual labour by over 80 per cent.
This cutting-edge approach supports Sarawak’s goals to monitor and mitigate deforestation while strengthening reforestation efforts.
Their proposals align with Sarawak’s Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, which aims to maximise environmental and community benefits through strategic initiatives.
Additionally, representing Arkadiah Restores Sdn Bhd were Reuben Lai, its CEO; Abel Pui, Managing Director; and Alvin Goh, Director.
Paramount Technology Sdn Bhd was represented by Tapah Ata, Managing Director.
