By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, July 12: Cow dung, which produces methane, can be harnessed to generate hydrogen fuel as part of Sarawak’s green energy agenda, says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Speaking at the International Day of Forests 2025 celebration today, Abang Johari said even livestock waste such as cow dung can be monetised through clean technology under the State’s circular economy model.
“If there are a lot of cows, you know the thing (cow dung) that they produce?
“The waste that comes out of the cows contains a lot of hydrogen, because it produces methane. And from that, it produces more hydrogen which we can use,” he said at the event held at Forest Research Center.
He emphasised that Sarawak is shifting away from a linear approach to waste by turning organic by-products into valuable resources, benefitting both the environment and economy.
As part of this effort, the State government has allocated RM30 million through Sarawak Land Consolidation and Rehabilitation Authority (SALCRA) to pioneer a circular economy project in Lubok Antu, aimed at converting palm oil waste into biomass and biofuel.
“Right now, we grow oil palm and sell the palm oil, but we don’t process or manage the waste it produces.
“So in Lubok Antu, together with SALCRA, we launched a new initiative with an investment of RM30 million to process the palm kernel into biomass and biofuel. The biomass can then be used to produce animal feed,” he explained.
The Premier said trials using the feed on cows and goats have shown that the animals respond well to the locally produced biomass feed.
With livestock prices surging, especially during festive seasons such as Hari Raya Korban, he pointed out that this strategy can help reduce animal feed costs.
“Our animals are now expensive. During Hari Raya Korban season, we have to pay RM12,000 per cow. That’s why the faces of our YBs (elected representatives) went sour because we have to pay RM12,000 for each cow,” he revealed.
He also said the biofuel produced from palm waste can be refined into Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to power aeroplanes.
Abang Johari also shared that his now-viral remark from a recent ASEAN Women Economic Summit 2025 (AWES 2025) keynote address in Kuala Lumpur—“Don’t waste the waste, monetise the waste”—has gained regional traction.
“I said, ‘don’t waste the waste, monetise the waste’. It became a quotation taken from them,” he disclosed.
He said these efforts are part of Sarawak’s Sustainability Blueprint, which integrates development in urban areas, agriculture and society in line with the United Nations’ ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) goals.
Also present were Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Natural Resources Datuk Len Talif Salleh; Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability (MEESty) Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni; Deputy Sarawak Secretary (Economic and Development Plan) Datu Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel; and Forest Department of Sarawak (FDS) director Datu Hamden Mohammad. – DayakDaily
