By Natasha Jee & Sarah Hafizah Chandra
SIBU: Sarawak’s early efforts in exploring hydrogen is now in line with the global race to produce green energy, said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
“Sarawak has started earlier to explore the potential of hydrogen as a source of emission-free energy and with the aim to build a hydrogen-based economy.
“With abundant resources such as water and hydro energy, Sarawak has a large potential to become a hydrogen economic hub in the region,” he said during the Sarawak Day 2022 celebration at the Sibu Indoor Stadium yesterday night.
Abang Johari added there are already investors from other countries such as South Korean and Japan who have confirmed their investment in Bintulu to produce hydrogen and ammonia.
“The Post-COVID-19 era sees the world stepping into a new economic era which transitions to a new energy in line with the universal commitment towards sustainability in building a green economy and addressing global climate change.
“In line with the universal commitment, the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 was put in place and it covers economies based on green energy, in particular hydrogen,” he said.
He added that PCDS 2030 emphasised on the development of economic sectors with high potential in the economic climate after COVID-19, particularly the world’s focus on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) under the management of the United Nations.
“PCDS 2030 also paves the way for an economy supported by carbon reduction or decarbonisation policies that lead to the development of carbon stocks, carbon trading and Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) in line with developments at the global level,” he said.
In order to provide a legal basis, he said the government has made amendments to the State Forestry Ordinance and the State Land Code recently allowing the state to be seriously involved in the process of carbon reduction and the implementation of a green economy.
“The post-COVID-19 era has brought new challenges to the global economy towards dealing with global climate change and having a sustainable economy.
“Thus, the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government under my leadership sees this challenge as an opportunity to develop new sources of wealth for Sarawak and its people,” said Abang Johari.
Earlier, the Sarawak Day 2022 celebration was officiated by Head of State Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and his wife, Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Raghad Kurdi Taib officiated at the Sarawak Day 2022 celebration
