Johor wants to cooperate with Sarawak on green energy initiatives

JOHOR BARU, June 20 — Johor Sustainability Centre (JSC) will collaborate with Sarawak on renewable energy sources (TBB) initiatives in the state, particularly through the use of hydrogen technology, said chairman Datuk Seri Hasni Mohammad.

He added that Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi will lead a government delegation to Sarawak this month to look into the matter.

“The visit aims, among other things, to strengthen cooperation and exchange experiences in order to consolidate development activities and state initiatives in the field of TBB.

“One of the state government’s strategies is to partner with the private or public sector to strengthen renewable energy initiatives in Johor,” he told reporters at the signing ceremony between Paragon Globe Berhad (PGB) and UOB Malaysia today.

The event was attended by PGB Executive Chairman Datuk Seri Edwin Tan Pei Seng and UOB Malaysia Chief Banking Officer Andy Cheah Shu Kheem.

Hasni, who is also a former menteri besar, said it was important for the state government to forge close cooperation with its counterpart in Sarawak to better understand hydrogen technology as a renewable energy source.

“We have learnt that Sarawak intends to export TBB to Singapore. If the initiative uses hydrogen technology, Johor has the potential to use it as a renewable energy source,” he said.

On June 10, Sarawak unveiled an energy transformation policy that includes renewable energy sources and technologies to ensure a clean and sustainable future for the state.

The policy, known as SET-P, was the state’s roadmap toward green energy.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg reportedly said that by 2023, Sarawak will become the largest producer and supplier of hydrogen fuel in the Southeast Asian region.

He added that Sarawak has the capacity to produce and supply hydrogen as it has many rivers and the water from them can be processed and used as hydrogen to power vehicles.