KUCHING (Dec 16): The Sarawak government and Eneos Corporation (Eneos) are strengthening their collaboration to jointly develop a competitive clean hydrogen production network in the form of methylcyclohexane (MCH).

Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the joint development of the hydrogen supply chain in MCH form is expected to reduce the cost of hydrogen production.

He said through the Hornbill Project between Sarawak and Japan, hydrogen will be converted from its original gas form into liquid form, which would thus enable larger volumes to be shipped to Japan.

“We now have a Hornbill Project between Japan and Sarawak. Hydrogen production in Sarawak will produce MCH.

“This MCH will then be transported directly to Japan for industrial use. This may lower the cost of hydrogen production, which will undoubtedly benefit us as a hydrogen producer and also the market, including Japan as well as other potential industries,” he was quoted as saying by the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas).

He said this during an interview with Ukas and TVS after a working visit to the Eneos Central Technical Research Laboratory in Yokohama, Japan today.

Abang Johari said the expansion of this technological innovation would simultaneously enhance large-scale MCH production.

“At present, we are focusing on hydrogen production through MCH, directly delivered to plants. This is a new technology.

“We projected producing 240,000 tonnes of hydrogen by 2028–2029. Japan, in fact, has two studies, one in Brisbane, Australia, which uses solar energy, while in Sarawak, they are using hydropower to produce hydrogen.

“Initially, we planned to produce hydrogen to be processed in Japan, but now, with MCH technology, it will be processed directly in Sarawak,” he said.

Eneos, which 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’ to achieve a carbon-neutral society.

Eneos promotes research and development (R&D) using digital technologies to ensure a stable energy supply, realise a carbon-neutral society, and create new innovative materials.

Abang Johari is currently on a five-day official visit to Japan where he and his delegation had arrived in Tokyo yesterday evening.

Accompanying him during this visit are Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, Utilities and Telecommunication Minister Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi, Deputy International Trade, Industry and Investment Minister Datuk Dr Malcolm Mussen Lamoh, and Deputy Energy and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni.

Also part of the Sarawak delegation are State Attorney General Dato Sri Saferi Ali, State Financial Secretary Dato Sri Dr Wan Lizozman Wan Omar, Deputy State Secretary (Economic Planning and Development) Dato Sri Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel, and senior Sarawak government officials.