Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg of Sarawak has outlined ambitious plans for the state to become a leader in renewable energy, particularly hydrogen production, by 2027. To this end, it is looking forward to collaborating with companies from South Korea, such as Lotte Chemical and Samsung Engineering. Sarawak aims to establish hydrogen production facilities to cater to both domestic needs and international export.
Expressing optimism for next three years, he said, “By 2027, we will have a plant to produce hydrogen together with South Korean companies namely Lotte Chemical and Samsung Engineering, which have become offtakers to the production of hydrogen. At the same time, we will also retain around 7,000 tonnes of hydrogen for domestic use, and this will be the energy for industries that have base in Sarawak.” He was talking to the media after officiating the Borneo Energy Transition Conference (BETC) 2024.
“This will increase our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) while at the same time provide new job opportunities for the new generation because this depends on the latest technology. Sarawak has all the resources and if we combine these with technology, therefore the state’s potential is very vast especially in terms of the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) policy,” he said.
He said at the moment, the state has two confirmed offtakers through Japan and South Korea. “If we were to scale up our production, there is also a possibility for other countries because they would have to comply with green energy,” noted he.
The Premier hoped to see the exchange of landmark documents between SEDC Energy (SEDCE) and Gentari Sdn Bhd on Sarawak Hydrogen Hub. The joint development agreement with Samsung Engineering, Lotte Chemical, Korea National Oil Corporation, as well as a groundbreaking initiative with Sarawak Metro on the Rembus Hydrogen Plant at BETC indicates the seriousness of the Sarawak government mission of producing clean energy for the world.
“Sarawak would like to become a hub, if possible, together with Gentari Sdn Bhd and to be the sole supplier for clean hydrogen for any downstream facilities in the state such as ammonia and methylcyclohexane (MCH).This hydrogen hub concept is separated between upstream hydrogen production and downstream hydrogen derivatives,” said the Premier.
“This illustrates that the hydrogen hub is able to cater to multiple investors through a plug-and-play concept for investors especially the electrolyser modules and other facilities that can be shared with the hub and managed and operated by SEDCE and Gentari Sdn Bhd,” said Abang Johari.
