KUCHING, Sept 6: Sarawak’s clear policy and vision towards transitioning into green and clean energy have been the State’s strong points in attracting foreign investments in decarbonisation.
Thanking a consortium of South Korean industries which have shown keen interest to work with Sarawak to produce hydrogen and ammonia, Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said that the State is eager to seal a collaboration with three major South Korean industries as part of Sarawak’s efforts to develop the hydrogen economy.
He highlighted this in his return address to thank the top management of South Korea’s biggest steelmaker POSCO at the conglomerate’s headquarters in South Korea.
The Premier also pointed out that Sarawak is fortunate to be endowed with rich renewable resources such as hydro power that is an important zero-carbon source of energy to produce green hydrogen.
The Premier and members of his delegation flew into the South Korean capital on Sunday (Sept 4) with the aim of, among others, enhancing partnerships with South Korean industries in the field of green energy generation and innovation.
According to a statement today, POSCO has indicated that it plans to use hydrogen to generate power for its steel manufacturing and much of the supply would have to be imported from other countries, including Malaysia, and from Sarawak in particular.
Three South Korean companies namely, Samsung Engineering Co, Lotte Chemical Corp and POSCO have signed a preliminary Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Sarawak government through Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) to build a hydrogen plant in Sarawak under the H2biscus Project.
The MOU, which was signed in January this year, was to develop an environmentally friendly hydrogen and ammonia plant in Bintulu.
The Sarawak H2biscus Green Hydrogen/Ammonia Project will have an annual capacity to produce 630,000 metric tonnes (mt) of green ammonia, 600,000 mt of blue ammonia, 460,000 mt of green methanol and 7,000 mt of green hydrogen.
Tomorrow, the Premier, joined by South Korea Second Vice Minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy Park Il-Jun, will witness the signing of an MOU between Sarawak Energy Bhd, SEDC and the Samsung-POSCO-Lotte consortium.
Members of the Premier’s delegation include Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, Deputy State Secretary Datu Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel, SEDC chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Hussain and Sarawak Energy chief executive officer (CEO) Datu Sharbini Suhaili. — DayakDaily
