Unimas takes another step forward

KUCHING: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) is moving forward its research on renewable energy with the signing of its latest memorandum of understanding with Golden Circle Venture Sdn Bhd (GCVSB).

Unimas vice-chancellor Datuk Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi and GCVSB executive chairman Raja Datuk Azwane Raja Ariff shook hands on the historic memorandum during a ceremony held at Unimas yesterday.

GCVSB will be working together with Unimas’ Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy (CoERE) to enable joint consultancies and collaborative research projects, just to name a few.

The memorandum will also see both parties cooperating together to seek funds and support to assist local communities and the local government in the area of renewable energy.

“It is the mission of CoERE to establish a conducive and multi-disciplinary research environment for researchers and scientists focusing on R&D, commercialisation of marketable renewable energy technologies and prodivison of solutions to community and tactical environmental issues,” explained Suaidi during his opening speech.

“This collaboration will contribute to strengthening the position and visibility of Unimas as a major contributor to R&D for Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

“The Unimas Research Centre will also be built in Mukah on the site provided by the state government, and will focus on research activities that contribute directly to the progress and development of SCORE,” he said.

Azwane elaborated on the activities of GCVSB which of late was venturing into renewable energy after successfully investing in various sectors such as oil and gas, real estate, contruction, trading and tourism.

“Back in 2012 we identified a small start-up company in Tunisia which designed and developed a bladeless wind turbine system called Saphon Energy.

“In order to explore the technology, we need expertise in this field. That was the main reason we offered Unimas to be our technical partner as the university’s CoERE is well known for its research on renewable energy. We believe that this partnership will help us strengthen our business position in developing a future abundant source of energy in Malaysia, and Sarawak in particular,” he said.