Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg
KUCHING: Sarawak is scaling up its commercial green hydrogen production by leveraging on its abundant hydropower resources to meet Asia’s growing demand for clean fuel, Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said.
He said the state’s partnership with Japan, South Korea and China had expanded Sarawak’s hydrogen supply chain to position itself as a leader in the Asia-Pacific green hydrogen economy, while integrating Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) to unlock new low-carbon economic opportunities.
"We will continue engaging with global stakeholders to grow low-carbon industries, develop sustainable infrastructure and drive innovation in clean energy solutions,” he said when delivering a lecture at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) - Yusuf Ishak Institute in Singapore today.
According to him, Sarawak’s goal is to boost electricity generation capacity to 10 Gigawatts (GW) by 2030 and 15GW by 2035, to strengthen its position as a green energy powerhouse in ASEAN to support industries, advance green technologies and enable regional electricity exports.
"Sarawak aims to be the battery of ASEAN by supplying clean energy and enhancing cross-border interconnectivity. Through the ASEAN Power Grid initiative, we are strengthening regional energy security while exploring storage solutions to optimise supply and distribution,” he said.
In his lecture entitled "Envisioning a Low-Carbon Future: Sarawak’s Journey Towards Sustainable Development”, Abang Johari said strong policies had driven Sarawak further into sustainable development, in addition to community engagement and global collaborations.
He said that in 2021, the state government laid down the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 which served as a roadmap for Sarawak to achieve prosperity, inclusivity and environmental sustainability in five years.
"At the midpoint of PCDS 2030, we are already seeing results, reflecting Sarawak’s ability to turn strategy into action. One of our most significant milestones is surpassing the World Bank’s high-income threshold ahead of schedule, reinforcing Sarawak’s position as an economic hub for trade and investment,” he said.
Sarawak had also introduced bold policy reforms, including the enforcement of a Land (Carbon Storage) Rules 2022 for CCUS, as well as the Natural Resources and Environment Ordinance 2024 to enhance resource governance.
"While policy reforms set the direction, their true impact lies in implementation. Sarawak is now putting these policies into action, accelerating industrial decarbonisation and advancing green innovation for a sustainable future,” he added. - Bernama
