SARAWAK is positioning itself as a global leader in renewable hydrogen production through the proposed Distribution of Gas (Amendment) Bill 2024.
In stating this Kota Sentosa Assemblyman Wilfred Yap pointed to the vital role of hydrogen in decarbonising industries, bolstering energy security, and driving Malaysia’s transition to a low-carbon future.
“Sarawak can use hydrogen to decarbonise and provide greener energy in power and transport, and it can store it for a long time when demand is high.
“The hydrogen economy supports reskilling and opens new opportunities in industrial parks by developing infrastructure to produce, transport, and store this sustainable fuel.
“The infrastructure projects and associated supply chains needed for hydrogen production could create new high-paying job opportunities and attract private investment, thus further boosting Sarawak’s economic growth,” he said when debating on the Distribution of Gas (Amendment) Bill, 2024 during the second meeting of the third session of the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting on Monday (Nov 11).
Yap added that the amendment would establish a legal framework for Sarawak to implement standards and regulations, support hydrogen use in industrial manufacturing, and guide strategic decisions on its role.
Additionally, he said that low-carbon hydrogen plays a pivotal role in Sarawak and Malaysia’s energy security and achieving net zero as a key enabler of a low-carbon, renewables-based energy system.
“Using home-grown, clean, renewable energy, hydrogen technologies can make Sarawak’s energy system more flexible, resilient and independent, and it could lead to billions of savings by 2030,” he added.
Yap added that Sarawak could harness the industrial opportunities the growing hydrogen sector presented by aligning policy development with the broader efforts to decarbonise its economy.
“Sarawak can become a global leader in producing and using low carbon hydrogen by drawing on domestic expertise and favourable geology, geography and infrastructure,” he said.
