KUCHING, Oct 4: Sarawak Energy Berhad is now the largest renewable energy producer in Malaysia.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg underscored Sarawak’s potential to become a model and hub for green energy within the Asean region as it is taking the lead in the green economy by aggressively pursuing various renewable energy sources, including green hydrogen and solar, facilitated by its renewable hydropower capabilities.
With the objective of elevating Sarawak’s renewable energy generation to 20,000 megawatts, alongside conventional blue energy from gas, Abang Johari said Sarawak will harness its renewable energy sources to propel the information technology (IT) industry forward and embrace generative artificial intelligence (AI) to further leapfrog economic development.
“We (Sarawak) strive to move away from a linear economy to a circular economy, where waste does not exist, products and raw materials are designed to be repeatedly reused as long as possible, and manufacturers design products to be reusable.
“An economy that is low-carbon, resource-efficient and socially inclusive supports sustainable development by promoting the use of renewable energy, reducing waste and pollution and creating green jobs and industries,” he said in his opening remarks at the 27th World Congress on Innovation and Technology and 6th International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (WCIT-IDECS) held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) today.
In this respect, Abang Johari proudly shared that Sarawak can claim to be home to Southeast Asia’s first integrated hydrogen production plant and re-fuelling station, using primarily renewable electricity to produce hydrogen.
“Plans are in place to begin large-scale commercial production and export of hydrogen by 2027. We signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with South Korean companies Samsung Engineering, Lotte Chemical and Posco Holdings, and we thank the South Korean government for providing the funds for this project, which we have named the H2biscus Project,” he said.
Furthermore, Sarawak Energy’s hydrogen production plant also serves as a refueling hub for hydrogen-powered buses owned and operated by Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC).
“Under our Green Energy Agenda, it also conducts research on greening the transportation sector through low-carbon fuels.
“We are also working on a project called the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) under the SEDC. When fully operational, ART will greatly enhance our public transportation system, helping our people get around more easily, and connecting neighbourhoods, businesses, industrial areas, schools, and tourist destinations, while promoting green mobility,” he added.
Other notable projects embarked on include Chitose Carbon Capture Central Sarawak which is the State’s very first industrial microalgae production facility that not only cleans the air as the super tiny microorganism lives off water, sun and CO2, but also can be used to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and other commercial products.
Abang Johari emphasised that these concerted efforts align closely with Net Zero goals and significantly contribute to the global fight against climate change.
Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian; Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Asfia Awang Nasar; Chief Minister of Penang Chow Kon Yeow; Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki; Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Julaihi Narawi; as well as World Innovation, Technology and Services Alliance (Witsa) chairman Dr Sean Seah and CEO Dato Dan E Khoo were among those present. — DayakDaily
