By Chris Bishop and Karen Bong
GEDONG, May 20: Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg will take to the skies coming Monday as a small volume of Sarawak-produced sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from microalgae undergoes a crucial trial on an aircraft bound for Langkawi.
Revealing this, Abang Johari said that he will personally board the flight that will use the groundbreaking SAF produced in collaboration with Japanese partners using cutting-edge technology involving algae.
“We are working with our Japanese partners for this innovation. We have started producing a small volume of the fuel as a trial.
“We are developing industrial-scale production in our pursuit to become a supplier of sustainable aviation fuel for the aviation sector.
“In fact, on Monday we will try to test the small volume of SAF produced on an aircraft flying to Langkawi. I will be on board the airplane. We will try it out.
“My wife (Puan Sri Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tun Tuanku Bujang) asked me if that is tested already since it is new. I told her let’s pray (for the success),” he said when officiating the groundbreaking ceremony for the upgrading of existing road from Gedong to Kampung Semalatong held at the Datuk Patinggi Ali Gedong Hall today.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the imminent test flight, Abang Johari pointed out that the bio-fuel will be introduced to the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA).
“The plane is owned by Airbus. But most importantly it is using fuel made in Sarawak for aircraft,” he said.
The success of this venture, he added, could pave the way for other areas in Sarawak, including Gedong, to explore similar initiatives and contribute to the production of the SAF.
He also gave assurance that the Sarawak government will put in all efforts to propel Sarawak’s prosperity through new approaches, ideas, innovations, and a new economic model that will benefit all Sarawakians.
“We want to increase the revenue of Sarawak and hopefully without any hindrance, we expect the figure to further increase from 2025 to 2027 with the results from our new ventures including SAF which will definitely become a new source of revenue for the region,” he added.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Sarawak State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki were among those present. — DayakDaily
