KOTA SAMARAHAN: The Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication is addressing the shortage of skilled personnel in the field of solar design.

Its minister Datuk Julaihi Narawi said that Sarawak currently has only 126 registered skilled individuals in solar system skills, primarily for projects like the Sarawak Alternative Rural Electrification Scheme (SARES).

This figure, he noted, does not include those skilled in solar design, he said, adding that the promotion of electricity generation using solar energy will increase the demand for skilled workers in this field.

“However, Sarawak still faces a shortage of experts in solar system installation and design.

“Therefore, my ministry, through the Electrical Inspectorate Unit (EIU), has collaborated with the Faculty of Engineering at the University Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) to introduce modules and syllabi for solar system design courses,” he said.

He was delivering his speech at the handover ceremony of the EIU Solar Photovoltaic System Design Certificate at DeTAR Putra UNIMAS today.

To ensure the sustainability of the solar sector, he said Sarawak cannot rely on external parties to produce skilled personnel and expertise in this field.

“We need to take the initiative to train local people to meet the growing needs of the solar industry. UNIMAS has been tasked with conducting competency courses such as Wireman and Chargeman L4.

“This means that UNIMAS can increase the number of competent persons in solar system installation, thus helping the government’s goal of promoting solar technology,” he added.

Meanwhile, at a press conference later, he said the shortage of skilled individuals is posing a challenge to the supply of electricity to rural areas, including the solar industry.

“We are aiming to produce as many skilled individuals as possible, and UNIMAS can handle this; I believe this university has intake targets for each session,” he said.

Julaihi pointed out that UNIMAS was accredited in June 2023, making it the first institution in Sarawak to offer such courses.

“I believe UNIMAS’s accreditation will have a positive impact on promoting the use of solar systems in Sarawak.

“This will create more opportunities to train professionals in solar system design,” he asserted.

The event also witnessed the ministry’s director of Electricity Supply Mohamad Fauzi Shahab handing over the Certificate Accreditation for Photovoltaic (PV) Solar System Design Courses to the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Associate Professor Dr Norazzlina M Sa’don, in the presence of Julaihi.

Deputy Energy and Environmental Sustainability Minister Dr Hazland Abang Hipni and UNIMAS Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi were also present.