S’wak aiming to be hydrogen hub

KUCHING: Sarawak aims to start exporting renewable energy, particularly hydrogen, by the end of 2027, says Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

He said the state was working with industry players, as well as Japanese and South Korean investors, to explore the potential for developing hydrogen in Sarawak.

“The infrastructure will be completed by 2027, when we will have a plant to produce hydrogen.

“At the moment we have confirmed off-takers from South Korea and Japan.

“If we were to scale up our production, there is a possibility to export to other countries.

“Sarawak may one day become a green energy supplier for the whole region,” he told reporters after opening the Borneo Energy Transition Conference yesterday.

In his speech earlier, Abang Johari said Sarawak planned to set up a hydrogen hub in collaboration with Gentari Sdn Bhd.

He said the hub would be the sole supplier of green hydrogen for downstream facilities in the state.

“This hydrogen hub concept is separated between upstream or hydrogen production, and downstream hydrogen derivatives to illustrate that it can cater to multiple investors,” he said.

Abang Johari said the hub would be managed and operated by SEDC Energy Sdn Bhd (SEDCE), a subsidiary of the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation, and Gentari subsidiary Gentari Hydrogen Sdn Bhd.

“I hope this understanding between the players will send a signal that we are serious in producing clean energy for the world,” he added.

Abang Johari also witnessed a document exchange between Gentari Hydrogen and SEDCE for the joint development of a centralised hydrogen production hub in Bintulu, to be known as the Sarawak H2 Hub.

SEDCE also exchanged documents for a joint development agreement with Samsung Engineering, Lotte Chemical and Korea National Oil Corporation as well as an initiative with Sarawak Metro to develop the Rembus hydrogen plant in support of the Kuching urban transportation system project.