KUCHING (June 10): Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC)’s subsidiary SEDC Energy Sdn Bhd (SEDCE), and Gentari Hydrogen Sdn Bhd, exchanged documents on Monday to formalise a joint-venture to develop the Sarawak H2 Hub, a global scale hydrogen (H2) production hub in Bintulu.
The documents exchange ceremony was performed at the Asia Pacific Green Hydrogen 2024 Conference & Exhibition, held here, witnessed by Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
In a joint statement for the occasion, SEDCE and Gentari said the Sarawak H2 Hub will be a facility for standardising and optimising all H2 production projects in the Bintulu area, besides operating as the sole supplier of green H2 for downstream facilities in the region.
Project H2ornbill, in collaboration with Japanese firms ENEOS and Sumitomo Corp and Project H2biscus, a partnership with South Korean firms Samsung Engineering, Lotte Chemical and KNOC to establish hydrogen derivative facilities, are set to be part of the Sarawak H2 Hub.
“The hub adopts a unique ‘plug and play’ concept, utilising a modular approach to integrate H2 production units into the hub, where common utilities and ancillary services are pre-developed,” the statement said.
The partnership marks a significant milestone in realising Sarawak’s ambition to expand the use of cleaner energy, supporting the goal of becoming a commercial H2 producer by 2027 and a key player in the H2 economy.
This aligns with SEDCE’s mandate to drive the new energy ecosystem in Sarawak and Gentari’s vision to be Asia Pacific’s most valued clean energy solutions partner by 2030.
SEDCE chief executive officer Robert Hardin said the joint venture comes as a good partnership that would propel Sarawak into the H2 production hub for the region, while the “plug and play” concept would lead to more investors or partners into Sarawak.
“From here onwards, it will be an uphill task for us all, but I believe the challenge will make us more resilient and ready for the larger challenges. With this, my hope is to drive the new energy economy for Sarawak and Malaysia to the next level,” he said.
Gentari chief hydrogen officer Michèle Azalbert said the joint venture aims to establish Sarawak as a key player in the green H2 sector, creating substantial economic value for the state by driving the entry of new industries and investments.
She said it would also create new high-value jobs and spur technological innovation through the provision of green feedstock for downstream facilities, such as chemical production.
“Gentari is proud to be a strategic partner to SEDC Energy in advancing the transition to a low-carbon future, in line with Sarawak’s clean energy ambitions and Malaysia’s Hydrogen Economy and Technology Roadmap,” she added.