While a decarbonized aviation industry was one day a dream, it is slowly coming to fruition thanks to the efforts of global air-transport leaders.
– Eways Aviation
One of the news that made the rounds this week was the successful flight by a Latvian airBaltic Airbus A220-300 aircraft which ferried Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and the Sarawak delegation to Langkawi.
What is noteworthy about the flight is the fact that it was powered by Sarawak-made algae sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
It was the first aircraft to be fuelled with what was previously considered waste material – a crummy-like substance that was sight for sore eyes which was an indication of neglect as well as decrepit state.
But now, it is as good as gold. Not quite, but almost. Microalgae is being explored as a potential source of renewable energy, with two facilities cultivating algae in the state.
The trip was in the midst of the recent Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting – and I was in the ‘war room’ when the flight took off.
Days before that, the local media had published news articles on the flight that took off on Monday. If anything, it was a sign that the people are interested to know about the event.
It was remarkable and in the Premier’s winding up speech during the recent sitting, he made note of this success.
“I wish to inform this august House that I have just came back from the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) exhibition using aircraft powered by SAF, from a joint venture between PETRONAS and SEDC Energy.
“It is the world’s first SAF produced using algae. This clearly proves Sarawak is able to produce safe and reliable SAF for commercial use,” he said on Wednesday.
He was of the belief that microalgae is a renewable source that can offer a sustainable solution and that Sarawak with its tropical climate and abundance of seawater presents the right condition to farm the oil source sustainably.
“This may mean we do not have to look for oil anymore offshore or onshore and we can have our ‘farmers’ grow oil more sustainably.
“The unit cost per barrel is below USD50 and today if sold to a biorefinery, it might fetch around USD110 per barrel because it’s green oil,” he added.
This was ground-breaking. Not only has Sarawak identified another revenue source to supplement the state’s income for the purpose of development, it did so by being a global leader in microalgae-based SAF production.
Abang Johari, as Chief Minister (now Premier), since he took office has made it a personal mission for him to diversify and increase Sarawak revenues.
History will remember him for being successful in doing so and at an unprecedented rate through his farsighted policies and vision.
History will also view him as an environmentalist who navigated an entire state towards sustainable energy production and putting Sarawak at the forefront of this growing industry.
As Sarawak look to negotiate uncharted waters of global renewable energy production and use particularly hydrogen in its vehicles and microalgae in its aircrafts, the issue of development remains important.
As noted by several assemblymen in their debates in the recent sitting, there have been many development-based issues that has been addressed.
While, there still remains a few that is yet to be resolved, it is only a matter of time that it too becomes a thing of the past.
The state is progressing well under the state government and it is hope of all Sarawakians that this continues in the future.
However, as things look bright for the future, we must also consider that it is a direct result of political stability in the state.
The leaders in the Sarawak government now are not being concerned about bouts of instability and nor are they worried about the possibility of the government collapsing.
What is happening in Peninsular Malaysia is another thing entirely where efforts are always ongoing by its leaders to topple the present government despite the recent general election.
While fluidity in terms of our politics meant more things are being pledged in an effort to woo supporters and the electorate, however it doesn’t guarantee its implementation as the government might not be there long enough for it to take shape.
It is a sordid state of affair. However, as Sarawakians, we may take solace in the fact that this does not affect Sarawak. We are more than capable of charting our future as we are doing so presently.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
