By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 11: Marubeni Corporation, a leading Japanese integrated trading and investment conglomerate, has initiated a collaborative pre-feasibility study with InvestSarawak to establish a commercial-scale sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) value chain in Sarawak, catering for local consumption or the export market by 2030.
This partnership stems from a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed during the Asia Pacific Green Hydrogen Conference and Exhibition (APGH) 2024, where Marubeni and InvestSarawak, an agency dedicated to investment promotion, expressed their joint interest in exploring hydrogen initiatives to firm up its SAF project.
According to a media release today, the primary objective for Marubeni is to ascertain the viability of producing SAF using biomass feedstock, such as agricultural and timber waste, and to evaluate potential technology pathways for SAF production within Sarawak.
Aligned with the strategic objectives of both entities is the ambition to meet the escalating demand in the airline sector for sustainable fuel alternatives.
Biomass, encompassing materials derived from plants or animals, serves as the primary feedstock, with SAF representing a cleaner jet fuel sourced from renewable resources like microalgae.
During their participation in the conference at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), the Marubeni delegation had the opportunity to observe various hydrogen initiatives, including hydrogen-powered public transportation facilitated by Sarawak Metro.
The delegation was led by New Energy Business Development Department general manager Wataru Ikushima Next Generation Fuel Business Development Team manager Motoaki Yoshida, Marubeni Asian Power Singapore senior vice president Masashi Shirotake along with its vice president Tham Pui Yin, Marubeni Malaysia deputy managing director Takashi Shibuya.
They were warmly received by InvestSarawak chief executive officer (CEO) Timothy Ong.
The Asia Pacific Green Hydrogen Conference and Exhibition 2024, which was launched by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg serves as a platform for industry leaders to discuss and advance the utilisation of green hydrogen as a clean and sustainable energy source. — DayakDaily
