KUCHING: Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) sites in Sarawak are safe and have no long-term environmental risks, the state legislature was told on Wednesday (Oct 14).
State Deputy Energy and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni said the carbon dioxide is stored in liquid rather than gaseous form.
"Therefore, the possibility and probability that the liquid carbon dioxide will leak is very, very low, between 0.001% and 0.01% per year," he said.
He added this also means that over 1,000 years, 99% of the stored carbon dioxide remains securely contained within underground geological formations.
Datuk Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman (GPS-Tupong) had asked about regulatory, monitoring and environmental protection mechanisms to ensure that CCUS development is safe and does not transfer long-term environmental risks to future generations.
Dr Hazland said carbon storage in Sarawak is regulated primarily under the Land (Carbon Storage) Rules 2022 and the Environment (Reduction of Greenhouse Gases Emission) Ordinance 2023.
"This regulatory framework covers surveillance throughout the project life cycle, from site assessment and the determination of its geological characteristics to development, carbon dioxide injection to site closure and post-closure monitoring," he added.
Dr Hazland also said project developers must prove that a storage site is geologically suitable and ensure that appropriate risk management measures, monitoring and corrective actions are in place.
"Continuous monitoring is also important to confirm that the injected carbon dioxide remains safely stored in the designated geological formation, while enabling early detection of any unusual conditions or potential leaks."
He also told the assembly the state oil and gas company, Petros, has also developed its Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage Guideline (PC+G) as a guide for developers and storage operators carrying out CCUS activities in Sarawak.
The guideline, he said, supports a standardised approach to ensure that the development, operation and monitoring of carbon storage projects are implemented safely and responsibly.
On responsibility and liability for the integrity of the storage site after the closure of a project, Dr Hazland said under the Land (Carbon Storage) Rules 2022, the storage user remains responsible for post-closure monitoring of the site and the implementation of necessary corrective measures until the storage permit is terminated.
"Generally, the termination of this permit is subject to a minimum period of 20 years after site closure.
"After the storage permit is terminated, the responsibility for continuous monitoring and the implementation of corrective measures shifts to the licensee."
The storage user, however, still bears liability for any prior leakage, damage or non-compliance originating from their party, in accordance with the provisions of those rules, he added.
"This stipulation ensures the continuity of responsibility for the long-term integrity and safety of the storage site."
