by AZALEA AZUAR / pic credit: Petronas Power

PETROLIAM Nasional Bhd’s (Petronas) subsidiary Petronas Power Sdn Bhd has completed its “Rays of Hope” pilot project which aims to bring clean and free energy to the Orang Asli and those staying in community centres.

The company has collaborated with SOLS 24/7 and the Orang Asli Welfare Department on this corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme to empower the livelihoods of these communities through free installation of solar systems.

This project will be implemented at select settlements in Kampung Ulu Piong and Kampung Tibang in Perak, and Kampung Tanjung Sepat in Selangor.

Each Orang Asli house will be provided a 6W portable micro-grid solar system with LED lamps and USB ports.

Petronas Power believed that this is a long-term solution as children would be able to study better at night while the adults can generate income from activities such as making handicrafts.

On the other hand, the selected community centres such as orphanages and old folks’ homes will be given a 10kW solar system to enable them to cut costs on electricity which makes up a majority of their monthly expenses.

In turn, their savings in electricity bills can be used to support their operating costs and other expenses.

The Rays of Hope pilot phase has successfully empowered 90 Orang Asli homes, two Orang Asli community halls and four community-based centres.

Subsequent phases will be executed until 2025 and will reach out to approximately 450 Orang Asli homes and 83 community-based centres across the nation.

Petronas COO and executive VP and CEO of gas business Adnan Zainal Abidin said the company remains committed to enrich the lives of such communities by providing access to clean energy, as a progressive cleaner energy solutions partner.

“It is a great pleasure that we can positively impact the life of the Orang Asli and residents of the community-based centres.

“I also hope that the Rays of Hope programme will brighten their future because we are giving them access to what they did not have before,” he said in a statement yesterday.

The Rays of Hope programme is also in line with Petronas’ goals of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

It expects to reduce 747 tonnes of carbon dioxide on a yearly basis, which is the same as planting 19,360 trees.