KUCHING, March 1 — Indonesian President Joko Widodo is scheduled to perform a ground-breaking ceremony today for the construction of 925-megawatt hydro-electric power (HEP) plant involving Sarawak Energy Berhad as a partner in North Kalimantan.

In a statement today, the Sarawak Premier’s Office (SPO) said the construction work of the US$2.6 billion (RM11.7 billion) HEP is scheduled to commence in the first quarter of next year.

“It is expected to be completed in late 2029 and full operations will start in 2030,” the SPO said.

It added that the HEP, to be developed at Mentarang River, is meant to supply electricity to the industrial zone in North Kalimantan.

Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg and his delegation arrived in Malinau yesterday at the invitation of PT Kayan Hydropower Nusantara which will develop the HEP, the biggest in Indonesia, located about 35 kilometres from Malinau town.

He is confident that the proposed power plant will bring plenty of investment to North Kalimantan and at the same time, upgrade its economic status.

Abang Johari said that the province has similar cultures to Sarawak, adding that most of the residents at the HEP site are Lun Dayeh and Punan.

The premier said as the biggest supplier of power in Malaysia, Sarawak is prepared to share its experience with the neighbouring countries in renewable energy for mutual benefit, especially in environmental sustainability and economic development.

He said Sarawak has already supplied electricity to West Kalimatan.

Among those accompanying Abang Johari are Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan and Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Dr Hazland Abang Hipni.