By Karen Bong
LUBOK ANTU, June 20: Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg shared Sarawak’s green energy and economic development agenda during a meeting with Premier of the People’s Republic of China Li Qiang in Kuala Lumpur yesterday (June 19).
“Last night (June 19), I had the opportunity to meet the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) and the Chinese Premier (His Excellence Li Qiang) where both Prime Minister and I shared with him about what Sarawak is developing in terms of green energy.
“The Chinese Premier is aware that there are many Chinese investments and entrepreneurs exploring opportunities and collaborations in Sarawak as we develop the region economy hollistically,” he told a recorded press conference after visiting the Batang Ai Floating Solar Farm today.
Abang Johari was in Kuala Lumpur to attend the 50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Malaysia and China celebration dinner on Wednesday.
He highlighted that Sarawak’s renewable energy sector, including hydrogen and floating solar systems, is attracting foreign investors following recent global engagements by the Sarawak government.
“When we produce green energy, it will also lead to the production of other renewable resources such as hydrogen.
“Now, there is this ‘power to gas to power’ (P2G2P) approach whereby renewables can produce gas which then serves as feedstock to produce energy,” he explained.
By adopting this approach such as in the production of hydrogen, Abang Johari said Sarawak can simultaneously produce green methanol and green ammonia, both of which have a significant market.
Having read the news that Elon Musk, who co-founded companies like Tesla and SpaceX, had stated his intention to shift Tesla from electric to hydrogen power, Abang Johari believes hydrogen will represent the future of green mobility.
“As such, the future of Sarawak is bright. Sarawak will invest in producing hydrogen,” he added.
Also present during the working visit were Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi, Deputy Minister of Energy and Environment Sustainability Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, Deputy Sarawak Secretary (Economic Planning and Development) Datu Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel, Deputy Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment Datuk Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, Lubok Antu MP Roy Angau Gingkoi, Sarawak Energy Group CEO Datuk Sharbini Suhaili, China Power International Holdings chairman He Xi, Base Floating Solar Sdn Bhd chairman Zhao Yong Gang and Sri Aman Resident Mahra Salleh. — DayakDaily
