By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Oct 3: Sarawak will develop its very first solar-powered electric bus charging station with battery energy storage system at Demak Laut Industrial Park here.
This followed the exchange of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Henz Pacific Sdn Bhd who is the first bus operator operating the electric city bus in Kuching under the brand name ‘Kuching Metro’, and Solarvest Holdings Berhad which is Malaysia’s leading clean energy expert company.
The MoU exchange ceremony was witnessed by Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Sarawak, Dr Hazland Abang Hipni at Borneo Cultures Museum here today.
Hazland during his speech, congratulated the parties involved in the project for taking part in mitigating climate change.
However, he cautioned the possibility of arising issue in the disposal of batteries.
“Even though disposal of battery for EV (electric vehicles) is an issue but in the interim period that Sarawak is developing the hydrogen industry and hydrogen economy, it is okay to have (solar-powered and hydrogen-powered vehicles) side by side to complement each other.
“However, we must keep in mind on the issues of battery disposal and battery production by those countries,” he said at the event.
Through the MoU, Henz Pacific and Solarvest companies will engage in technology transfer and fostering innovation into clean energy transport system and support industry in advancing the field of clean energy transportation.
The project is part of ‘Accelerating the Adoption and Scale-up of Climate-Smart Transport in Malaysia (AASCT)’ initiative under United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) as Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC).
The event also witnessed the exchange of Strategic Collaboration Agreement of ‘Kuching Metro Solar Smart Electric Bus Charging Station Project Demonstration’ between Henz Pacific and MGTC.
Also present were Henz Pacific managing director Henry Lai, UNIDO Regional Office in Thailand officer Sooksiri Chamsuk, MGTC’s Technology Solutions Group director Nazmi Syahrin Kasmurin, Sarawak Business Federation president Dato Sri Abang Abdul Karim Tun Openg, Solarvest executive director Leon Liew Chee Ing, Sarawak Energy Berhad executive advisor to Group Chief Executive Officer Abang Mohammad Hudini and Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) chief executive officer Zolkipli Mohamad Aton. — DayakDaily
