GENTARI HYDROGEN, SEDCE TO DEVELOP HYDROGEN HUB IN BINTULU

KUCHING, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- Gentari Hydrogen Sdn Bhd and SEDC Energy Sdn Bhd (SEDCE) will jointly develop a centralised hydrogen production hub in Bintulu, Sarawak to be known as Sarawak H2 Hub.

The document exchange ceremony for the heads of agreement (HoA) signed between Gentari Hydrogen, and SEDCE was held at the Borneo Energy Transition Conference (BETC) 2024 here today and witnessed by Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

“The planned global-scale hydrogen production hub in Bintulu is intended to serve as the sole supplier of green hydrogen for downstream facilities in the Bintulu division area,” said Gentari Hydrogen and SEDCE in a joint statement.

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A joint venture company to be formed by Gentari Hydrogen, a subsidiary of Gentari Sdn Bhd, and SEDCE, a subsidiary of Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), will be managing the hub which will also be responsible for optimising all hydrogen production projects within the region.

SEDCE had been tasked to kickstart the new energy ecosystem in Sarawak, in line with the state government’s vision to emphasise the use of new and cleaner energy. Sarawak is positioning itself to be a commercial hydrogen producer by 2027 with the vision of transitioning the state into a hydrogen economy.

Gentari's chief hydrogen officer Michèle Azalbert said Malaysia is well placed to be a clean hydrogen hub in Asean, led by states such as Sarawak with its ample sustainable resources. 

She said Gentari has been pursuing collaborations with partners such as SEDCE to develop the local hydrogen economy, which will create economic value for the state while positioning the country as a hydrogen export hub.

“We believe that hydrogen is the way forward and we are committed to contributing towards Sarawak’s Hydrogen Economy Roadmap, in addition to the Malaysian government’s vision and objectives in the Hydrogen Economy and Technology Roadmap (HETR)," she said in the statement.

SEDCE chief executive officer Robert Hardin, meanwhile, said its strategic partnership with Gentari for the Sarawak H2 hub will be a significant undertaking to spur more developments and attract new investments in the new energy sector. 

“Hydrogen will play a role in the energy transition and as highlighted in the National Energy Transition Roadmap, Sarawak’s role in advancing this development is worthwhile to note. It resonates well with our approach to collaboration internationally and domestically,” he added.

Gentari and SEDC Energy had previously entered into a strategic collaboration agreement in the development and provision of integrated clean energy solutions and contribution to policy and regulatory development in the state.

-- BERNAMA