By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Oct 11: The exclusive rights over carbon managament in Sarawak, including licensing of operators, rest with Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros), declares Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
Emphasising that all carbon storage endeavours fall under Sarawak’s legal purview, particularly in accordance with the Sarawak Land Code, Abang Johari reiterated that no other entity has the right to regulate onshore carbon activities apart from the Sarawak government’s appointed resource manager, Petros, when it comes to matters concerning Sarawak’s waters.
“Petros is the sole manager as far as Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) is concerned. The licence is from the Sarawak government and given to Petros. This means all carbon storage activities, and anything to do with carbon within Sarawak’s territorial boundaries are the purview and right of Sarawak.
“As the head of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), we will protect this right for Sarawakians,” he said when officiating at a ceremony to mark Petroleum Sarawak Berhad’s (Petros) and Petra Energy Berhad (Petra) first onshore drilling at The Grand Old Lady, Canada Hill in Miri today.
Abang Johari highlighted that Sarawak has a unique and distinct value proposition for the region, that is Low Carbon Solutions (LCS), which is fast becoming a global mega-trend, where Sarawak can continue to grow the socio-economic pie whilst at the same time, protect the environment by realising net zero emissions by 2050.
He said Sarawak possesses all the key LCS ingredients, including the largest hydropower capacity in Malaysia, and potentially in the region, while over 60 per cent of gas reserves in Malaysia are in Sarawak, and over 60 per cent of CCUS resources.
With the combination of all these natural advantages, Abang Johari firmly believed that Sarawak’s LCS proposition is well beyond the above socio-economic indicators, where Sarawak can become a new growth hub for Malaysia and even the whole Asean region.
“And now, as the resource manager and sole licence holder for CCUS, Petros will play an integral role in realising the benefit from CCUS for Sarawak and Sarawakians,” he said.
Abang Johari also acknowledged that while Sarawak possesses oil and gas resources, renewable energy, advanced digitalisation, and generative AI technologies, there is a shortage of engineers, even though many Sarawakians have returned to work within the State.
“It is still insufficient. With Sarawakians also serving in the Sarawak-owned methanol plant in Bintulu, we need more professionals in various sectors, including healthcare, to accelerate and further advance Sarawak’s development,” he added.
Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Deputy Minister of Tourism Dato Sebastian Ting, Petros chairman Tan Sri Dr Hamid Bugo, OBYU Holdings founder and advisor Tan Sri Bustari Yusuf and Petra Energy Berhad executive director and Group chief executive officer (CEO) Dato Anthony Firdauz Bujang were among those present. — DayakDaily
