Hengyi Industries yesterday launched their solar project at Pulau Muara Besar (PMB), which is set to become the largest in Brunei upon the completion of its first phase in April 2025.
Hengyi’s Project Sustainable Integration of Natural and Renewable Energy (Project SINAR) will see its pilot phase generating up to 38 megawatts peak (MWp). This will be achieved through the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on building rooftops, car shed rooftops, and open spaces across 36 hectares of PMB.
The project is designed primarily to provide energy to Hengyi’s refinery and petrochemical complex.
Chairman of the Zhejiang Hengyi Group Qiu Jianlin, stated that Project SINAR aims to reach a total capacity of 476 MWp over three phases. The second and third stages will contribute 156 MWp and 272 MWp, respectively.
This would equate to the power required for 10,000 households during the first phase, and well over 120,000 households with all three phases realised at full capacity.
The second stage will expand solar PV installations to include PMB’s artificial lake, coastline, and additional open spaces. Stage three will utilise the jetties and shallow sea areas surrounding PMB.
“The solar energy generated through Project SINAR will not only support the energy needs of Hengyi Industries’ petrochemical refinery, but will also contribute to Brunei’s national power grid when required, enhancing energy sustainability across the nation,” said Qiu Jianlin.
The chairman added that preliminary analysis indicates PMB is highly suitable for harnessing solar power due to its abundant annual solar irradiance, earning a Grade A rating for Solar Energy Resource Richness.
Brunei is targeting 30% renewable energy in total power generation mix by 2035, with 200 MWp of solar energy by 2025.
The launch event also saw the release of Hengyi’s 2023 ESG Report, which highlights their progress in environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and governance.
Hengyi Industries is 70% owned by Zhejiang Hengyi Group and 30% by the Brunei government through Damai Holdings, a subsidiary that operates under the Strategic Development Capital Fund of the Ministry of Finance and Economy.
Major active solar installations in Brunei include the country’s first, Tenaga Suria Brunei, launched in 2010 with a capacity of 1.2 MWp, and Brunei Shell Petroleum’s 3.3 MWp solar plant, launched in 2021 to supply power to its headquarters. Both plants have plans for further expansion. Upcoming projects include a 30 MWp solar plant in Subok by 2025, along with additional installations planned in other districts.
