KUCHING: An international green hydrogen conference and exhibition next year is expected to propel Sarawak to the forefront of the green energy revolution.
The Asia Pacific Green Hydrogen Conference and Exhibition (APGH) 2024 on June 11-13 is being seen as a platform that will set the stage for Sarawak to accelerate the growth of its hydrogen economy.
Deputy Minister of Energy and Environment Sustainability Dr Hazland Abang Hipni said the event which will be held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).
He pointed out that the demand for green hydrogen is expected to grow by 50 per cent per year over the next decade in the Asia Pacific region.
“As such, there is a need to ramp up the development and construction of green hydrogen plants. Over the last year, it was announced that production volumes for hydrogen have increased by more than 40 per cent to 38 million tonnes per annum of additional capacity, roughly half of what the world needs by 2030 to be on track to meet the net zero emissions commitment by 2050.
“Hence, there is a need to move the projects from feasibility to Front End Engineering Design or FEED stage, to construction phase and ultimately operations. I am happy to share that our hydrogen projects are currently in the FEED stage and the Final Investment Decision (FID) is planned for next year,” he said during the launch of the event in Kuala Lumpur on today (July 12).
Through APGH 2024, Dr Hazland said leading experts from around the world will come together to discuss the latest developments in green hydrogen especially in the technology, policy, regulation, and infrastructure development space.
He said APGH 2024 will also provide a platform for businesses to network and explore opportunities for collaboration.
“I am also excited about the opportunity for our youths to take advantage of this platform to discover their passion and opportunities in clean energy, the energy transition and in green hydrogen,” he said.
Meanwhile, Borneo Business Connect chairman Tan Sri Asmat Kamaludin said the event aims to position Sarawak at the forefront of the green hydrogen economy, to draw investors, collaborators, industry partners, researchers, and delegates with the objective to develop and growing green hydrogen, fuel cell, and renewable energy-related business ecosystem.
“It will become a conducive platform and enabler for government investors and government-private sector partnerships for mutual benefits,” he said.
During the launch event, OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad (OCBC Bank) solidified its unwavering commitment to sustainability and decarbonisation by becoming the Exclusive Financial Institution Partner for APGH 2024.
According to Senior Banker, Managing Director, and Head of Investment Banking of OCBC Bank, Tan Ai Chin, the bank’s involvement is aimed at meaningfully contributing to Sarawak’s sustainability initiatives towards achieving its goal of a low carbon and inclusive green economy by 2030.
“The bank’s efforts in supporting the sustainability initiatives of corporates and GLCs in Malaysia through its pioneering efforts in structuring award-winning bespoke sustainable financial solutions would contribute to the OCBC Group’s Net Zero Asean and Greater China target by 2050,” she said.
The event is expected to attract 100 exhibitors, 500 conference delegates and 4,000 trade visitors.
