YOKOHAMA: The Sarawak government, in collaboration with ENEOS Corporation, is advancing efforts to jointly develop a competitive supply chain for clean hydrogen production in the form of methylcyclohexane (MCH).
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg announced that this joint development in the hydrogen supply chain, in the form of MCH, is expected to reduce hydrogen production costs.
He said through the Hornbill project between Sarawak and Japan, hydrogen will be converted from its gaseous form into liquid to enable larger quantities to be transported to the country.
“We now have the Hornbill project between Japan and Sarawak. Hydrogen production in Sarawak will generate MCH, which will be shipped directly to Japan for use in their industries.
“This could lower hydrogen production costs, benefitting Sarawak as a hydrogen producer and opening up markets, not just in Japan but also potentially for other industries.”
Abang Johari said this during an interview with UKAS and TVS following his working visit to ENEOS Central Technical Research Laboratory in Yokohama today (Dec 16).
Abang Johari, who is also the Finance and New Economy Minister, added that through the expansion of technological innovation, large- scale MCH production is expected to increase.
“We are now focused on hydrogen production via MCH, which is then delivered directly to the plant—this is a new technology.
“Initially, we aimed to produce 240,000 tonnes of hydrogen by 2028 or 2029. Japan has two projects, one in Brisbane, Australia, which uses solar power, and another in Sarawak, where hydroelectric power is used to produce hydrogen.
“Originally, we planned to produce hydrogen for processing in Japan, but now, with MCH technology, we can process it directly in Sarawak.”
For the record, ENEOS, a company that supplies 20 per cent of Japan’s primary energy, aims to make next-generation energy sources such as hydrogen, synthetic fuels, and biofuels the ‘future norm’ in achieving a carbon-neutral society.
ENEOS is actively promoting research and development (R&D) using digital technology to ensure a stable energy supply, realise a carbon-neutral society, and create innovative new materials.
