Blueleaf Energy, a leading pan-Asian renewable energy platform owned by a fund managed by Macquarie Asset Management, and Chemsain Sustainability Sdn Bhd (Chemsain), an established Malaysian sustainability advisory firm, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the potential development of up to 3 GW of onshore utility-scale renewable energy projects in Sarawak, Malaysia, in a closed-door ceremony held during the Macquarie ASEAN Conference in Singapore.
The partnership aims to accelerate Malaysia’s clean energy transition by leveraging Blueleaf Energy’s global expertise in renewable energy development and financing and Chemsain’s deep local knowledge of the regulatory landscape and sustainability frameworks. The collaboration is a strategic move to support the ambitious goals outlined in Malaysia’s National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) and Sarawak’s Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
“This MoU marks a significant milestone for Blueleaf Energy’s expansion in Southeast Asia and our commitment to supporting Malaysia’s National Energy Transition Roadmap,” said Raghuram Natarajan, CEO of Blueleaf Energy. “The ambition to develop up to 3 GW of renewable energy in Sarawak is a powerful testament to the region’s immense potential. By combining our global expertise in financing and large-scale project development with Chemsain’s deep-rooted local knowledge, we are confident in our ability to deliver energy solutions that create long-term value and bolster Malaysia’s energy transition.”
“This collaboration reflects Chemsain’s strong commitment to accelerating sustainable development in Sarawak,” said Dr. John Chan, Executive Chairman of Chemsain Sustainability. “By leveraging our deep expertise in local regulatory frameworks, environmental planning, and stakeholder engagement, we look forward to working alongside like-minded partners such as Blueleaf Energy to ensure all projects are fully aligned with both federal and state-level goals. Our focus is to help de-risk development and enable large-scale clean energy investments that deliver lasting value.”
“Partnering with a trusted local advisor like Chemsain exemplifies our commitment to ‘go local’ to deliver the best solutions,” said Amiram Roth-Deblon, Chief Operating Officer of Blueleaf Energy. “In a market as dynamic as Sarawak, we understand the value of forging such partnerships to not only de-risk our development pipeline but also ensure our projects are seamlessly integrated with the local community, delivering a holistic and positive impact that goes beyond just power generation.”
The MoU establishes a framework for cooperation across several key areas, including site and grid access, permitting, technical development, and community engagement. The partners will also explore opportunities for associated local industrial ecosystem development, which underscores a shared commitment to fostering long-term economic growth and creating jobs in the region.
The collaboration will be focused on onshore utility-scale projects, utilizing proven technologies such as solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery energy storage systems (BESS). The two companies are committed to exploring project opportunities over a two-year period, with the goal of helping Sarawak establish itself as a leader in clean energy production and sustainable development.
The MoU Signing Ceremony was held at the Fullerton Hotel, Singapore, on the 18th of August 2025, witnessed by The Honorable Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz (Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Malaysia), His Excellency Dato’ Indera Dr. Azfar Mohamad Mustafar (High Commissioner of Malaysia to Singapore), His Excellency Allaster Cox (Australian High Commissioner to Singapore, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Australia), Chew Chang Guan (CEO, Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore), and Edward Lewis (Managing Director at Macquarie). The agreement was signed on behalf of Chemsain Sustainability by Dr. John Chan (Executive Chairman of Chemsain Sustainability) and Timothy Chan (Executive Director of Chemsain Sustainability), and on behalf of Blueleaf Energy by Raghuram Natarajan (Chief Executive Officer of Blueleaf Energy) and Amiram Roth-Deblon (Chief Operating Officer of Blueleaf Energy).
Also present at the ceremony were senior representatives from the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry for Malaysia (MITI), the High Commission of Malaysia to Singapore, the High Commission of Australia to Malaysia, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (STATOS), Export Finance Australia (EFA), Austrade, Invest Sarawak, Bursa Malaysia Berhad and Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB).
