Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed hope that the clean hydrogen energy and decarbonisation collaboration project between Sarawak Economic Development Corporation Energy (SEDCE), Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros) and a Japanese consortium could be facilitated by May 2025.
Petros, Petronas Subsidiary CCS Ventures Sdn Bhd and Japanese consortium parties comprising Japan Petroleum Exploration Co Ltd, JGC Holdings Corporation and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha Ltd signed a storage site agreement (SSA) for the M3 depleted field offshore Sarawak, Malaysia on 26 February 2024.
The SSA enables the feasibility studies of the CO2 storage sites starting with the M3 depleted field (M3 CCS project), and also the planning of the CO2 storage site development, including onshore terminals and transportation pipelines as well as assessment of its techno-commercial feasibility.
Anwar said the collaboration is expected to succeed, especially since Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg had given his assurances regarding the project’s development, along with the support of Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.
“We will hope to facilitate this as soon as possible, to be able to meet some deadlines, let’s say by May when we meet either in Tokyo or in Kuala Lumpur,” he said during a joint press conference with Ishiba in conjunction with the latter’s two-day official visit to Malaysia recently.
At the same time, Anwar expressed his appreciation toward Japan for its long-standing relations with Petronas in the area of liquefied natural gas, with Japanese companies now involved in the country’s carbon capture utilisation storage via Petronas’ clean energy policy and through the delivery of carbon-neutral LNG cargo to Shikoku Electric Power and Hiroshima Gas.
“We also agreed to deepen cooperation on the Asia Zero Emissions Community (AZEC) and to advance collaboration in the area of green transformation between the two nations. To ensure energy security and achieve decarbonisation, we will enhance cooperation in areas such as ammonia-fuelled gas turbines, CCS (carbon capture and storage, hydrogen and LNG. This will include cooperation in Sarawak,” he said.
In October 2024, Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd awarded a contract to a joint venture (JV) company comprising SKS Coachbuilders Sdn Bhd and Sun Credit Sdn Bhd for the supply of hydrogen-powered feeder buses, where the JV company will design and manufacture 55 single deck hydrogen fuel cell feeder buses, among others.
“The contract – valued at RM122.4 million including options – will be executed over 43 months,” Sarawak Metro said.
The hydrogen-powered feeder buses are meant to support the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system network under the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project in providing first and last-mile connectivity.
According to Sarawak Metro chief executive officer Mazli Mustaffa, this progress represents a significant step towards building a more reliable, convenient and eco-friendly public transport network in Kuching.
Being tasked with the implementation, operation and maintenance of the KUTS project, Sarawak Metro explained that the backbone of the KUTS project is the introduction of zero-emission ART hydrogen vehicles that would move on rubber tyres and operate on dedicated trackless lanes that will mostly be on road level while certain sections of the alignment will be elvated.
The ART operation will be supported by a network of feeder buses, which will also consist of hydrogen-powered vehicles to offer the ‘first mile and last mile’ connectivity for commuters.
The move to use hydrogen is in line with the Sarawak government’s aspirations to advance the hydrogen economy and decarbonise public transport in Sarawak.
The post Anwar Hopes Malaysia-Japan Hydrogen Energy Project to Go Full Throttle This Year first appeared on Energy Asia.
