Sarawak Explores Major Hydrogen Partnership with Siemens Energy
The government of Sarawak is actively exploring the potential for a significant, strategic partnership with Siemens Energy, a global energy powerhouse headquartered in Berlin, Germany, specifically focused on dramatically boosting hydrogen production within the state.
Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg confirmed that his recent visit to Siemens Energy’s headquarters has successfully opened up new, crucial opportunities for Sarawak to gain invaluable experience and benefit from the company’s advanced, industry-leading technology, particularly in the area of efficient hydrogen production.
The Premier highlighted the stark difference in production capacity: Siemens’ electrolyser technology is capable of producing an impressive 350 kilograms of hydrogen per hour, a massive leap compared with Sarawak’s current capacity of only about 130 kilograms per day.
This substantial difference presents a clear and compelling opportunity for Sarawak to significantly boost its efficiency and production capacity in the near future.
“We have discussed with the company, and Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB), together with the Sarawak Utilities and Telecommunications Ministry, will study possible forms of collaboration in this process,” the Premier stated, indicating a defined pathway for joint exploration.
He further added, “This means that we can learn from them, and for the future, we will see how it goes,” underscoring a phased, knowledge-transfer approach to the collaboration following the working visit to Siemens Energy’s headquarters in Berlin.
Collaboration Targets Beyond Hydrogen Production
Beyond the immediate and primary focus on enhancing hydrogen production via advanced electrolyser technology, the Sarawak government is also keenly interested in exploring collaboration with Siemens Energy in the areas of gas turbines and utilizing the sophisticated resources of the Siemens Innovation Centre for research and development.
Premier Abang Johari Openg noted that apart from the game-changing electrolyser technology, the Sarawak government also sees great value in exploring cooperation concerning gas turbines.
Specifically, Siemens’ highly efficient gas turbine technology could be strategically applied in the Samalaju Industrial Park in Bintulu, a major industrial zone for the state, which would include periodic and necessary turbine upgrades to ensure optimal performance and longevity.
The simulation facilities available at the Siemens Innovation Centre also present potential applications that could greatly benefit Sarawak’s research and development sector, allowing for advanced modeling and testing.
The Premier described his official working visit as highly meaningful, as it has successfully opened up these diverse, new areas of cooperation in the field of green energy.
This strategic engagement is perfectly aligned with Sarawak’s overarching long-term aspirations to firmly establish itself as a leading and major hydrogen industry hub in the entire region.
Earlier in the visit, the Premier and his entourage held a high-level meeting with Thorbjörn Fors, Siemens Energy Group senior vice president and managing director for Asia Pacific, and Juha Pankakoski, Siemens Energy executive vice president for global functions, to lay the groundwork for this multi-faceted, future collaboration.
Highlighting Sarawak’s Green Energy Ambitions in Paris
Following the productive visit to Germany, the Premier’s schedule included an important stop in Paris, France, where he was set to deliver a keynote address on Sarawak’s green energy ambitions at an international forum on pumped storage hydropower, further solidifying the state’s global profile.
The Premier was scheduled to attend the prestigious International Forum on Pumped Storage Hydropower, held at the UNESCO House in Paris, under the relevant theme of “Pump it up! Powering a Decarbonised World.”
His keynote address was specifically designed to highlight Sarawak’s regional and global ambitions as a leader in developing green energy solutions and its strong commitment to hydrogen production for the global market.
This engagement provides a crucial platform to communicate Sarawak’s sustainable development narrative to an international audience of policymakers and industry experts.
In addition to his address, the Premier planned to hold key bilateral meetings with several prominent figures, including French Minister for Industry and Energy Marc Ferracci and the International Hydropower Association (IHA) president, Malcolm Turnbull.
Later that afternoon, he was expected to visit the headquarters of Électricité de France (EDF) on Avenue de Wagram in Paris before concluding his official working visit and returning to Sarawak.
Accompanying the Premier on this important visit to Germany and France were key state officials, including Sarawak Utilities and Telecommunications Minister Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi, Deputy Utilities Minister (Sarawak Energy and Petros) Datuk Ibrahim Baki, and Sarawak Energy Bhd group chief executive officer Datuk Sharbini Suhaili.
The official visit spanned from September 7 to 9.
