KUALA LUMPUR: Gentari Sdn Bhd and SEDC Energy Sdn Bhd (SEDCE) have announced their collaboration in developing a centralised global-scale hydrogen production hub in Bintulu, Sarawak, to be named the Sarawak H2 Hub.
This initiative aims to become the primary supplier of green hydrogen for downstream facilities in the Bintulu division area.
The management of the Sarawak H2 Hub will be overseen by a joint venture company formed by Gentari and SEDCE.
This entity will be entrusted with optimising all hydrogen production projects in the region.
Gentari, through its subsidiary Gentari Hydrogen Sdn Bhd, has formally entered into a heads of agreement (HOA) with SEDCE, a subsidiary of the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation.
The signing ceremony took place today during the Borneo Energy Transition Conference (BETC2024) in Kuching, with Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg as the witness, Gentari said in a statement.
SEDCE has been assigned the responsibility to spearhead the establishment of the new energy ecosystem in Sarawak, aligning with the state government's vision of promoting the adoption of innovative and environmentally friendly energy solutions.
"Malaysia is well-placed to be a clean hydrogen hub in ASEAN, led by states such as Sarawak with its ample sustainable resources.
"At Gentari, we have been focused on pursuing collaborations with partners such as SEDC Energy to develop the local hydrogen economy, which will create economic value for the state while positioning the country as a hydrogen export hub.
"We believe that hydrogen is the way forward, and we are committed to contributing towards Sarawak's Hydrogen Economy Roadmap, in addition to the Malaysian government's vision and objectives in the Hydrogen Economy and Technology Roadmap (HETR)," said Michèle Azalbert, the chief hydrogen officer at Gentari.
Azalbert said that hydrogen's role in decarbonising sectors like energy, transportation, and petrochemicals globally cannot be understated.
She said that the demand for low carbon hydrogen-derivatives is a testament to their rising significance.
Sarawak is positioning itself to be a commercial hydrogen producer by 2027, with the vision of transitioning the state into a hydrogen economy.
SEDCE chief executive officer Robert Hardin said this partnership with Gentari for the Sarawak H2 hub will be a significant undertaking as this will spur more developments and attract new investments, especially in the new energy sector.
"Hydrogen will play a role in the energy transition, and as highlighted in the National Energy Transition Roadmap, Sarawak's role in advancing this development is worthwhile to note. It resonates well with our approach to collaboration internationally and domestically," he said.