NEWS & UPDATES

• Energising tomorrow for Sarawak, today
• South East Asia’s first integrated hydrogen production plant and refueling station debuts in Kuching
• Expected research outcomes of pilot project include greater knowledge on green transportation
• Refueling station will service an initial three fuel cell buses and two fuel cell cars

KUCHING, 27 MAY 2019, MONDAY: A significant milestone was achieved today for Sarawak’s Green Energy Agenda with the official launch of South East Asia’s first Integrated Hydrogen Production Plant and Refueling Station in Kuching and the introduction of Sarawak’s first hydrogen-powered vehicles.

The facility includes a plant built by Sarawak Energy that produces hydrogen through an electro-chemical process called electrolysis, as well as a refueling station for Sarawak’s first hydrogen fuel cell electric buses under the ownership and management of Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC).

The launch was officiated by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg.

The event was also attended by Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing, Minister for Utilities Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom and Assistant Minister for Electricity Datuk Dr Haji Abdul Rahman Junaidi.

Datuk Amar Abdul Hamed Sepawi, Chairman of Sarawak Energy and Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr Abdul Aziz Dato Haji Hussain, Chairman of Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) represented their organisations.

Datu Sharbini Suhaili, Group CEO of Sarawak Energy and other members of the energy developer’s senior management team were also in attendance.

The facility was completed and operationalised less than two years after Abang Zohari first announced that Sarawak Energy would be undertaking research on hydrogen for energy related applications in November 2017.

Through the completed facility, Sarawak Energy is now able to explore hydrogen’s potential to be part of Sarawak’s energy mix as a fuel for the future for a green transportation system, as well as energy storage with export potential.

The pilot project builds on Sarawak’s foundation of SCORE as a growth strategy for powering development through renewable energy. It is expected to contribute to the body of local and global knowledge regarding hydrogen technology and its application, especially in a tropical environment.

Construction and operation of the hydrogen production plant and refueling station was undertaken by Sarawak Energy in collaboration with Linde EOX Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Linde Malaysia. The Linde Group is among the world’s leading industrial gases and engineering companies.

The collaboration provides a platform for knowledge-sharing and transfer of technology.

The idea was first raised given Sarawak’s competitive advantage in affordable and renewable power and ample water supply, as well as on the understanding that hydrogen would play a significant role in the future for mobility.

The Chief Minister congratulated both Sarawak Energy and SEDC in helping to move Sarawak’s green energy ambition forward.

Sarawak Energy Chairman Abdul Hamed said, “Under the Green Energy Agenda, we are supporting Sarawak’s vision of an emission-free public transportation sector through the twin pillars of a hydrogen economy framework and battery electric vehicles."

Sarawak Energy has four electric cars and 24 electric scooters as part of its corporate fleet, and have acquired two Hyundai NEXOs, fuel cell electric vehicles powered by hydrogen, to demonstrate their commitment to greening the transportation sector in Sarawak.

“We have now built South East Asia’s first integrated hydrogen production plant and refueling station. This allows us to harvest green hydrogen as the first steps towards enabling a hydrogen-based economy and in building a green energy future for the transportation sector for Sarawak and the region. I am proud of Sarawak Energy’s role in this,” he added.

The production plant is able to produce 130kg of hydrogen per day at a purity of 99.999% (five 9s) and is capable of supporting and fully refueling up to five fuel cell buses and ten fuel cell cars per day. When used in fuel cells for transportation, hydrogen has zero carbon emission with water and heat being its only by products.

The plant was designed and built according to all relevant regulations, codes, standards and best practices referenced from the design and operation of other international world class facilities.

Yang Amat Berhormat Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Bin Datuk Abang Haji Openg, Chief Minister of Sarawak (3^rd from right) launching South East Asia’s First Integrated Hydrogen Production Plant and Refueling Station as well as unveiling cars and buses powered by hydrogen. Looking on are (from left) YB Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, Assistant Minister for Industries and Investment Sarawak; YB Datuk Dr Haji Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Assistant Minister for Rural Electricity Sarawak; YB Tan Sri Datuk Amar James Jemut Masing, Deputy Chief Minister of Sarawak; Datuk Amar Abdul Hamed Sepawi, Chairman for Sarawak Energy; YB Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Minister for Utilities Sarawak; Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr Haji Abdul Aziz Dato Haji Husain; Chairman for Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC); and Datu Sharbini Suhaili, Sarawak Energy Group Chief Executive Officer.

Yang Amat Berhormat Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Bin Datuk Abang Haji Openg, Chief Minister of Sarawak (3^rd from right) and other dignitaries posing with one of Sarawak Energy’s hydrogen-powered Hyundai NEXOs.

Yang Amat Berhormat Datuk Patinggi Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Bin Datuk Abang Haji Openg, Chief Minister of Sarawak (center) refueling Sarawak Energy’s Hyundai NEXO with hydrogen.