By Shikin Louis & Ashley Sim
KUCHING, Feb 26: Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg reveals that banking institutions are uncertain about providing loans despite calling for companies to adopt sustainability practices.
He said even though there has been a lot of pressure for the world to transform towards green energy to cool the earth, the banks are saying, ‘nanti saya pinjamkan duit, tidak dapat bayar’ (if I lend you the money, you might not be able to pay us back).
“This is because there is no ‘guarantee’ that this one (transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy) will work. But to me, it will work.
“If the first era of steam engine industry using coal worked, and from coal to fossil fuel works, don’t tell me fossil fuel to renewable (energy) cannot work,” he said during the Borneo Energy Transition Conference (BETC2024) held at a local hotel here today.
Nevertheless, he said the Sarawak government is taking a bold step in developing the hydrogen industry as it believes that, over time, the advancement of technology will lower the cost of hydrogen production.
At the Conference, Abang Johari witnessed the exchange of three landmark documents between SEDC Energy Sdn Bhd (SEDCE) and its partners.
The first was developing the Sarawak Hydrogen Hub between Gentari Hydrogen Sdn Bhd and SEDCE.
The second was a joint development agreement (JDA) between SEDCE with Samsung Engineering, Lotte Chemical and Korea National Oil Corporation (KNOC) on developing the H2biscus Plant.
Meanwhile, the third was for the groundbreaking initiative between SEDCE and Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd on developing the Rembus Hydrogen Plant to complement the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project.
Amongst those present were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian; Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni; Deputy Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment Datuk Malcolm Mussen Lamoh; Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Husain; Petronas Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tengku Muhammad Taufik Tengku Aziz, MARC Group CEO Datuk Jamaludin Nasir, and SEDCE CEO Robert Hardin. — DayakDaily
