The state of Sarawak has been at the forefront of engaging in efforts that supports Malaysia’s renewable energy (RE) initiatives and its mission to achieve a net-zero carbon emission future.
As such, Sarawak’s Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni believes that Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship next year will present an excellent opportunity for advancing carbon trading and carbon credits within its member countries, while also addressing the carbon emission trading system (ETS).
“Currently, there is no formalised carbon trading system in the region. We operate only within a voluntary carbon market on a willing-buyer, willing-seller basis which leads to comparatively low prices.
“The alternative compliance trading requires and ETS, which ASEAN lacks, unlike regions and countries such as Europe, Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea,” he said, adding that the Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg has also empasised the importance of proposing an ASEAN ETS at next year’s summit.
“Recently, our team met with the Malaysian Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change in Kuching. If completed, the ETS would benefit countries like Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Laos, which are actively pursuing nature-based solutions,” he added.
According to Hazland, Sarawak has developed a waste-to-energy (WTE) system, offering a way to produce energy and generate new revenue streams from waste.
“The state has established a WTE policy, categorising waste (such as plastic and household waste) into municipal, agricultural, industrial, inert and electronic waste. This not only creates revenue but also opens up new employment opportunities.
“The technology is straightforward, with energy generated from incineration. With the help of artificial intelligence (AI), materials like steel, cement and stones can be automatically separated, leaving the remaining waste to be processed into steam to turn turbines and produce electricity,” he explained.
Apart from that, Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd (Sarawak Metro) awarded a contract worth over RM112 million to a joint venture (JV) company comprising SKS Coachbuilders Sdn Bhd and Sun Credit Sdn bhd for the supply of hydrogen-powered feeder buses.
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,” the bus operator said.
The hydrogen-powered feeder buses will support the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system network under the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) project, in providing first and last-mile connectivity.
During the contract signing ceremony held on 25 October, Sarawak Metro chief executive officer Mazli Mustaffa said that the award of this contract represents a significant step towards building a more reliable, convenient and eco-friendly public transportation network in Kuching.
A total of 6 tender submissions were received at the close of the tender exercise on 26 July earlier this year.
Specifically, Sarawak Metro, a subsidiary of the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) is tasked with the implementation, operation and maintenance of the KUTS project, which is under the purview of the Sarawak Transport Ministry.
The backbone of the KUTS project is the introduction of zero-emission Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) hydrogen vehicles that would move on rubber tyres and operate on dedicated trackless lanes.
In fact, the move to use hydrogen is in line with the Sarawak government’s aspirations to advance the hydrogen economy and decarbonise public transport in the state.
Additionally, global leader in critical infrastructure solutions, Black & Veatch was chosen as the owner’s engineer for PETROS Power Sdn Bhd’s Miri Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (Miri CCGT) Power Plant in Sarawak.
The CCGT Power Plant will be a lower-emission alternative to coal-fired power plants, which is expected to have a capacity of 500 megawatts (MW) and is intended to supply power to the Sarawak State Grid.
The power plant contributes to the Sarawak Gas Roadmap, which is critical to achieving Sarawak’s goal of doubling its economy by 2030.
Meanwhile, Black & Veatch will provide technical expertise, knowledge and technology transfer as well as support for engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) contract management and administration.
