BY NATASHA JEE & SARAH HARIZAH CHANDRA
KUCHING: Sarawak’s economy will grow further once the production and usage of hydrogen have taken off, said Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC).
SEDC chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr Abdul Aziz Husain said Sarawak is capable and in a position to produce hydrogen.
“Actually Sarawak is capable of producing two types of hydrogen — green hydrogen from hydro power and other renewable resources, and blue hydrogen from natural gas which is abundant in the state.
“Both types of hydrogen are required in large quantities. There will be a lot of demand when everybody starts to convert their vehicles to fuel-cell vehicles,” he said in a press conference on the inaugural Sarawak Hydrogen Association meeting at SEDC building today.
He said looking at the trend now most developed countries are trying to reduce their carbon footprint to prevent the release of carbon dioxide and other gases into the atmosphere.
“This is one of the initiatives that what we want to see in Sarawak. And one of the ways for this to be done is to turn conventional engines into engines that do not release carbon dioxide.
“This can either be battery powered vehicles, hydrogen powered vehicles, or fuel cell vehicles,” he said.
He added that hydrogen was also required as a basic material in the chemical industry.
“Hydrogen can be exported for transportation, power generation and various other industries.
“If we can produce hydrogen cheaply, it would increase our export earnings. This is what Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg would like to see,” he said.
“I think this is where we are heading. The Sarawak economy, with the production of hydrogen and uses of hydrogen, it will not increase our gross domestic product (GDP) and export.
“But it will also produce employment for the people who would be able to work in this new industry,” said Abdul Aziz.
