KUCHING, Sept 4: Sarawak Energy’s 2,520 MW Bakun Hydroelectric Plant has been awarded a Silver Certification under the Hydropower Sustainability Standard (HSS), making it the largest hydropower plant in Southeast Asia to achieve this globally recognised accreditation.
The presentation of the certification was witnessed by Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg during the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Forum (SAREF 4.0) at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) yesterday.
In a media release, Sarawak Energy emphasised that the recognition underscores its commitment to sustainable practices and sets a benchmark for responsible hydropower development in the region.
The HSS is a robust assessment and certification framework that ensures accountability in hydropower development and operation. Managed by the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance (HSA), the HSS operates as a multi-stakeholder system governed by four chambers representing industry, governments, financial institutions, and civil society.
The HSS serves as a benchmark to identify performance gaps and strengthen hydropower-specific sustainability practices, and enhances the credibility of accredited hydropower operators with regulators, investors and stakeholders. Sarawak Energy’s Sustainability Strategy and Roadmap is directly aligned with the Standard, with a key action plan to secure HSS recognition across all its hydropower assets by 2030.
Following a rigorous independent third-party assessment conducted by Accredited Assessors, Bakun HEP was recognised for meeting all minimum performance requirements of the Standard while achieving at least 30 per cent of advanced requirements across relevant ESG dimensions.
This certification highlights Bakun HEP’s strong performance across key sustainability topics, including community engagement, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience and transparent governance – in line with Sarawak Energy’s sustainability commitments.
Sarawak Energy’s Group chief executive officer Datuk Sharbini Suhaili said that the Bakun HSS Certification is an important milestone for Sarawak Energy in ensuring that its operations continue to bring positive impact to stakeholders, particularly local communities, regulatory bodies and employees.
“This recognition acknowledges Sarawak Energy’s commitment to responsible and sustainable energy development and supports Sarawak’s ambition to export sustainability-certified renewable energy, contributing to a just and equitable energy transition. It also reflects the Sarawak utility’s alignment with the principles of the San José Declaration on Sustainable Hydropower,” he added.
The HSS certification process began in 2020 with a baseline assessment by Sarawak Energy’s interna lHSS assessors and subsequently a cross-functional internal team to implement targeted action plans.
Official assessments commenced in May 2024 with detailed document reviews, interviews and on-site verification by independent accredited assessors. The evaluation included evidence-based data triangulation and direct engagement with all key stakeholders, including affected upstream, downstream, and resettled communities.
Hydropower Sustainability Alliance deputy executive director Alain Kilajian highlighted: “Getting a hydropower project certified in Borneo, with its rich cultural and biological diversity, is no easy feat. Meeting the Hydropower Sustainability Standard here requires strong environmental mitigations and meaningful consultation with Indigenous Peoples – and Bakun has done exactly that.
“Sarawak Energy has used the HSS to identify gaps, apply targeted action plans and embed best practices across its operations. Bakun’s certification shows how the HSS can be applied to raise project performance and build confidence that hydropower can be done right.”
International Hydropower Association (IHA) CEO Eddie Rich added that hydropower, when developed responsibly, has the power to transform societies – providing a clean, green, secure, reliable, and affordable solution to climate change.
“Sarawak Energy’s work at Bakun since acquiring the project is an inspiring example of this. By applying the Hydropower Sustainability Standard to address legacy issues and strengthen its practices, the company is showing how forward-thinking utilities can deliver the clean energy transition in a way that is both inclusive and sustainable.
This certification marks an important step forward in a continuing journey, showing what is possible when sustainability is placed at the heart of hydropower development,” he said.
Sarawak Energy has further embedded international best practices by training over 120 employees in the Hydropower Sustainability Standard and Tools, including Certified Users, Provisional Accredited Assessors and Accredited Assessors.
In addition to the Silver Certification, Bakun HEP is also a finalist for the prestigious Blue Planet Prize by the International Hydropower Association (IHA). The nomination underscores the plant’s strong ESG performance, with operations meeting all ESG topics under the HSS without gaps in Basic Good Practice requirements.
‘Bakun’s nomination for the IHA Blue Planet Prize reflects its longstanding commitment to sustainability and excellence in hydropower development. The project exemplifies how large-scale renewable energy infrastructure can be delivered responsibly, with strong performance across environmental, social and governance dimensions,” said Pablo Valverde, Deputy CEO of IHA.
These milestones demonstrate Sarawak Energy’s role in advancing sustainable hydropower and contributing to Sarawak’s low-carbon energy transition. More information on the outcome of the Bakun HSS assessment can be found at https://www.hs-alliance.org/published-assessments/bakun.
In a media release, Sarawak Energy emphasised that the recognition underscores its commitment to sustainable practices and sets a benchmark for responsible hydropower development in the region.
The HSS is a robust assessment and certification framework that ensures accountability in hydropower development and operation. Managed by the Hydropower Sustainability Alliance (HSA), the HSS operates as a multi-stakeholder system governed by four chambers representing industry, governments, financial institutions, and civil society.
The HSS serves as a benchmark to identify performance gaps and strengthen hydropower-specific sustainability practices, and enhances the credibility of accredited hydropower operators with regulators, investors and stakeholders. Sarawak Energy’s Sustainability Strategy and Roadmap is directly aligned with the Standard, with a key action plan to secure HSS recognition across all its hydropower assets by 2030.
Following a rigorous independent third-party assessment conducted by Accredited Assessors, Bakun HEP was recognised for meeting all minimum performance requirements of the Standard while achieving at least 30 per cent of advanced requirements across relevant ESG dimensions.
This certification highlights Bakun HEP’s strong performance across key sustainability topics, including community engagement, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience and transparent governance – in line with Sarawak Energy’s sustainability commitments.
Sarawak Energy’s Group chief executive officer Datuk Sharbini Suhaili said that the Bakun HSS Certification is an important milestone for Sarawak Energy in ensuring that its operations continue to bring positive impact to stakeholders, particularly local communities, regulatory bodies and employees.
“This recognition acknowledges Sarawak Energy’s commitment to responsible and sustainable energy development and supports Sarawak’s ambition to export sustainability-certified renewable energy, contributing to a just and equitable energy transition. It also reflects the Sarawak utility’s alignment with the principles of the San José Declaration on Sustainable Hydropower,” he added.
The HSS certification process began in 2020 with a baseline assessment by Sarawak Energy’s interna lHSS assessors and subsequently a cross-functional internal team to implement targeted action plans.
Official assessments commenced in May 2024 with detailed document reviews, interviews and on-site verification by independent accredited assessors. The evaluation included evidence-based data triangulation and direct engagement with all key stakeholders, including affected upstream, downstream, and resettled communities.
Hydropower Sustainability Alliance deputy executive director Alain Kilajian highlighted: “Getting a hydropower project certified in Borneo, with its rich cultural and biological diversity, is no easy feat. Meeting the Hydropower Sustainability Standard here requires strong environmental mitigations and meaningful consultation with Indigenous Peoples – and Bakun has done exactly that.
“Sarawak Energy has used the HSS to identify gaps, apply targeted action plans and embed best practices across its operations. Bakun’s certification shows how the HSS can be applied to raise project performance and build confidence that hydropower can be done right.”
International Hydropower Association (IHA) CEO Eddie Rich added that hydropower, when developed responsibly, has the power to transform societies – providing a clean, green, secure, reliable, and affordable solution to climate change.
“Sarawak Energy’s work at Bakun since acquiring the project is an inspiring example of this. By applying the Hydropower Sustainability Standard to address legacy issues and strengthen its practices, the company is showing how forward-thinking utilities can deliver the clean energy transition in a way that is both inclusive and sustainable.
This certification marks an important step forward in a continuing journey, showing what is possible when sustainability is placed at the heart of hydropower development,” he said.
Sarawak Energy has further embedded international best practices by training over 120 employees in the Hydropower Sustainability Standard and Tools, including Certified Users, Provisional Accredited Assessors and Accredited Assessors.
In addition to the Silver Certification, Bakun HEP is also a finalist for the prestigious Blue Planet Prize by the International Hydropower Association (IHA). The nomination underscores the plant’s strong ESG performance, with operations meeting all ESG topics under the HSS without gaps in Basic Good Practice requirements.
‘Bakun’s nomination for the IHA Blue Planet Prize reflects its longstanding commitment to sustainability and excellence in hydropower development. The project exemplifies how large-scale renewable energy infrastructure can be delivered responsibly, with strong performance across environmental, social and governance dimensions,” said Pablo Valverde, Deputy CEO of IHA.
These milestones demonstrate Sarawak Energy’s role in advancing sustainable hydropower and contributing to Sarawak’s low-carbon energy transition. More information on the outcome of the Bakun HSS assessment can be found at https://www.hs-alliance.org/published-assessments/bakun.