BY ALEXANDRA LORNA & NUR ATIQAH QURATULAINI
KUCHING: A new course related to hydrogen technology is set to be rolled out at the new campus of i-CATS University College (i-CATS UC).
Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Datuk Dr. Hazland Abang Hipni, said that its ministry and the i-CATS are coming up with new course involving hydrogen maintenance technology.
“The course aims to produce a local workforce to maintain hydrogen-powered vehicles including Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) in the state.
“And this effort is crucial for Sarawak to produce more technicians and skilled workers who can maintain all our ART, including other hydrogen vehicles such as buses and Toyota Mirai,” he said.
He said this during the Climate Change Awareness, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Potential of Green Economy in Sarawak Programme at i-CATS University College here yesterday.
Dr. Hazland also said that the Sarawak government will continue to expand new specialisations related to green technology through close cooperation with local educational institutions to strengthen its position as a regional leader and hydrogen hub.
Meanwhile, on a related note, he said Sarawak is set to become a major hydrogen producer in the region through the development of two large-scale green hydrogen plants.
“We will have two hydrogen plants by 2028 and 2030 respectively through cooperation with companies from Japan and South Korea.
“And each plant will require about 1,000 workers and it is expected to produce about 100,000 tons of hydrogen annually.
“Therefore, this is an opportunity for you, the younger generation, to seize opportunities to work in this sector, and it can start with studying at institutions that offer courses related to energy and green technology,” he said.
He said besides mitigating climate change, Sarawak can also monetise and capitalise on its strategies and methodologies towards achieving climate solutions.
Last year, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg announced that the new campus of Sarawak-owned i-CATS UC will be equipped with technology equipment to produce more skilled graduates in applied sciences.
He said the campus, to be built on an area of over 80 hectares in Trombol, near Kampung Telaga Air here, will also expand green skills training programmes such as hydrogen maintenance and electric vehicles (EV).
