Turkish energy firm proposes ‘powerships’ to bridge Sarawak’s energy needs

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Nov 30: Karpowership, a subsidiary of Turkey’s Karadeniz Energy Group, has proposed its innovative power plants, known as ‘powerships’, to bridge Sarawak’s energy needs while the State’s Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) plant is under development.

The proposal was presented by a delegation led by Dogan Karadeniz, board member and proprietor, and Tolga Bayav, Commercial Operations director for Asia, during a high-level meeting hosted by the Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment (Mintred) at Wisma Sumbar Alam on Wednesday (Nov 27).

The meeting, chaired by Deputy Premier and Mintred Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, included fruitful discussions with Karpowership and Arkadiah, a Singapore-based environmental technology firm.

According to a media release, Karpowership’s powerships (floating power plants) can generate between 36MW and 470MW of electricity, offering reliable short-to-medium-term energy solutions.

These powerships can be deployed within just two months, utilising liquified natural gas (LNG), diesel, or fuel oil. They can be stationed at strategic locations, such as the SEDC-Petchem 3km jetty, to serve industrial hubs like Bintulu and Samalaju.

“The ‘plug-and-play’ flexibility of these powerships complements Sarawak’s renewable energy goals and supports the state’s target of 60 per cent renewable energy, without requiring the decommissioning of existing power plants,” said Awang Tengah.

Karpowership also expressed interest in collaborating on floating solar and hydrogen technologies. In addition to the powership fleet, the company outlined its floating gas infrastructure, which includes LNG carriers and Floating Storage Regasification Units (FSRUs). These facilities can be deployed quickly to deliver LNG to potential consumption points.

The meeting also explored potential partnerships with local shipyards to diversify shipbuilding capabilities and enhance employment opportunities in the industry. Karpowership expressed its intention to invest in the local shipbuilding sector while advancing hydrogen and ammonia technologies to further decarbonise energy operations.

“We are optimistic about the solutions presented by Karpowership. Their expertise in providing immediate power supply and renewable technologies is critical to Sarawak’s energy transition strategy,” Awang Tengah added.

Meanwhile, Arkadiah Restores Sdn Bhd, in partnership with Paramount Technology Sdn Bhd, shared its vision for harnessing Sarawak’s carbon credit potential.

The Singapore-based firm 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 uses metadata and timestamps for individual trees, reducing manual labour by over 80 per cent.

“This cutting-edge approach supports Sarawak’s goals of monitoring and mitigating deforestation while strengthening reforestation efforts,” Awang Tengah emphasised.

Representing Arkadiah Restores were managing director Abel Pui and director Alvin Goh Eng Leh, while Paramount Technology was represented by managing director Tapah Ata and general manager Terence Tingang Tapah.

Also in attendance were Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, Mintred adviser Dato Sri Mohd Naroden Majais, Mintred permanent secretary Dzulkornain Masron, and InvestSarawak CEO Timothy Ong. — DayakDaily

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