Abang Johari (front, centre) in a group photo during the LANDAS Summit 2026. Photo: Information Department

BINTULU: Sarawak has adopted CubeSat technology to support land surveying and development planning, marking a significant step forward in the state’s environmental sustainability efforts, says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

He said small satellites, including nano-satellites and CubeSats placed in low Earth orbit, have the potential to store and provide critical data that can assist land surveys and long-term economic planning.

“This technology can help in surveying land from space, where data can be stored in low Earth orbit and later used for planning our economic development,” he said when officiating at the Land and Survey (LANDAS) Summit 2026 at a hotel here today (Feb 9).

He pointed out that while conventional satellites can cost between 300 million and 500 million euros, nano-satellites and CubeSats cost between 500,000 and 700,000 euros, making them far more accessible.

“We can produce nano-satellites and deploy them into low Earth orbit,” he said.

Abang Johari had earlier, at the launch of the Asia Pacific Aerospace Conference and Exhibition (APACE) 2026 last month, said Sarawak is strategically evaluating the full spectrum of space technologies, including the practical deployment of small satellite systems such as CubeSats.

“CubeSats have the advantage of being less expensive. Scientists say the cost of a traditional satellite ranges from 100 to 300 million euros compared to a CubeSat which costs less than 500,000 euros,” he was quoted as saying.

He also noted that while a conventional satellite may take between five and 15 years to develop and deploy, CubeSats can be built and launched into low Earth orbit in less than a year.

In addition, Abang Johari said Sarawak’s policy framework towards 2030 and beyond has been designed to address environmental sustainability and the challenges posed by climate change.

He stressed that economic activities must consider the processes and tools used, as these often have direct impacts on the environment, particularly carbon emissions.

“Today, land issues are closely linked to environmental concerns. Many countries, including our neighbours, are facing pollution problems,” he said.

He added Sarawak, under his leadership, began implementing a digital economy early on to ensure economic activities are seamless, which in turn reduces environmental impact.

“When processes are seamless, the effect on the environment is reduced,” he added.

Abang Johari also highlighted Sarawak’s push towards alternative energy sources to drive economic development, particularly hydrogen, which has been prioritised for public transportation.

“Although I faced criticism initially, the Sarawak government continued to explore hydrogen for public transport. Today, we can see the results, as the cost of electrolysis to separate hydrogen from water is decreasing,” he said.

He likened the development to solar energy technology, where costs have fallen significantly over time, expressing confidence that hydrogen will eventually become a key energy source to propel the economy.

“We are not misguided in this policy. Today, Sarawak is producing hydrogen, alongside renewable energy such as hydropower, biomass and solar,” he said.