KUCHING: Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg made history today (May 22) as he boarded the first Airbus aircraft powered by Sarawak’s algae-based sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) to attend the 16th Edition of Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA 2023).
The ground-breaking flight marked a significant milestone for Sarawak in the pursuit of sustainable and renewable energy.
The SAF used in the flight was produced from micro-algae through a carbon capture facility at the recently launched Sejingkat Power Plant.
“Today, I have the opportunity to be on the first flight powered by this fuel. I hope the flight will proceed smoothly,” he said at a press conference before witnessing an airBaltic airbus A220-300 aircraft refuelling with SAF at Kuching International Airport (KIA).
During the press conference, Abang Johari shared insights into the development of algae in Sarawak, emphasising the collaboration between Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas), particularly in research and development, and Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) Energy in producing SAF.
He said that the prerequisites for algae crude oil production include sufficient sunlight, carbon dioxide (CO2), and favourable climate conditions.
“And we have a relatively long coastline because this technology utilises seawater. This means we can extract this algae oil. I hold the view that the future of Sarawak is bright,” he enthused.
According to his estimation, cultivating algae on a 1000-hectare area using this technology could yield approximately 500,000 metric tonnes of crude algae oil, equivalent to about 10,000 barrels of oil per day.
He said 37 per cent of the crude algae oil is obtained from algae biomass.
Abang Johari added that the current cost per barrel, which stands at around 50 US dollar, may reduce in the future with ongoing research.
“And if we were to sell it to a refinery, the price would be approximately 110 US dollar per barrel, as of now.
“I can see that once we achieve mass production with this technology, the production costs may decrease in the future. The price, of course, would still depend on the prevailing oil prices.
“People are increasingly transitioning to sustainable and renewable energy due to climate change concerns. This means that renewable energy will eventually replace fossil fuels.
“That’s why Sarawak is at the forefront of this technology. That’s why I’m talking about Sarawak moving forward,” he added.
Abang Johari emphasised Sarawak’s commitment to exploring proven technologies for sustainable oil production and mentioned the additional products derived from algae, such as fertilisers.
He acknowledged Petronas and SEDC Energy as valuable partners in the search for new technologies, expressing gratitude on behalf of the government.
He expressed optimism about Sarawak’s future, saying that “the future is bright for Sarawak.”
Also present at the press conference were Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin, State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki among other dignitaries.
