KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 25): Sarawak Metro Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation, said on Friday that it has awarded a RM122.4 million contract for hydrogen-powered feeder buses.

The contract was awarded to a joint venture between SKS Coachbuilders Sdn Bhd and Sun Credit Sdn Bhd, Sarawak Metro said in a statement.

Under this contract, the joint venture will handle the design, engineering, procurement, manufacturing, supply, installation, delivery, testing, commissioning and handover of 55 single-deck hydrogen fuel cell feeder buses.

These hydrogen-powered buses are intended to support first- and last-mile connectivity for the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) network under the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) — a Sarawak government project aimed at modernising and decarbonising the state’s public transportation.

Sarawak Metro is responsible for implementing, operating, and maintaining the KUTS project.

The contract, awarded through an open tender with six submissions by the July 26 closing date, will be completed over a period of 43 months, Sarawak Metro stated.

“This contract award is a significant step toward building a more reliable, convenient and eco-friendly public transport network in Kuching,” said Sarawak Metro chief executive officer Mazli Mustaffa.

Sarawak, along with national oil firm Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas), are among key proponents of hydrogen energy in Malaysia, as part of efforts to build on expertise in the natural gas space to decarbonise.

At the federal level, the government has identified hydrogen as one of six key energy transition strategies for Malaysia under the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR).

In total, the government has planned three catalytic green hydrogen projects, including one in Kuching for domestic use set for completion by 2025 and two in Bintulu for export, due by 2027.