KUCHING: Five 3-in-1 refuelling stations to supply fossil fuel, hydrogen and electricity for vehicles will be built in Sarawak.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said they would be built beginning at the end of the year.
“We have identified the sites and the rural areas are included,” he told reporters at a press conference after launching the First Integrated Hydrogen Production Plant, Refuelling Station and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles in South East Asia at Sarawak Energy Berhad’s Western Regional Office, yesterday.
With that Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) and Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) has been directed to set the stations throughout the state.
“The cost of each station is less than RM15 million,” he said, adding that the stations would be the first in Malaysia and Southeast Asia.
To further develop hydrogen production including the agricultural sector in the state, Abang Johari said more than RM50 million will be allocated for research and development (R&D) next year for that purpose.
“This year RM50 million was allocated for R&D purposes, and RM10 million was set aside for the research on hydrogen,” he said, adding that a research council has been set up to study hydrogen in particular.
He said the establishment of the 3-in-1 stations including the newly launched hydrogen production plant was in line with the state’s Green Energy Agenda.
“We already have five dams sufficient to generate hydropower, and now we want to produce hydrogen,” he stressed.
As the world is focusing on clean energy, he said the state government is also going for green energy that would have less impact on the environment.
“Production of hydrogen can be costly for now, but as research is on-going, we believed that after the next ten years with new technology, the cost will go down. And we have the potential to export our hydrogen,” he said.
He then revealed that a country was already interested to import hydrogen from Sarawak and negotiation is going on.
“Through this approach, with revenue collected from our five per cent petroleum tax and the export of hydrogen, we will be able to generate more income for the state.
“We have to take bold moves and be innovative, and believe me our economy will be strong and will be in compliance with the world economy,” he said.
With that the chief minister said the state under Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) would continue its focus on rural development by providing basic infrastructural facilities/utilities such as water and power supplies, roads, bridges and Internet connectivity.
“We are exploring new sources of revenue, and this is part of it. We will earn more revenue for the state and I mean it.”
