(Kuching, 26th) The Sarawak government has requested to become Malaysia's sole natural gas aggregator, aiming to create emerging industries in this sector.
Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari said that Sarawak holds 60% of Malaysia's natural gas reserves, and these gases contain various components.
According to him, this requires skilled labor, especially in industries like this.
“We can break down methane molecules (CH4) to produce other products such as methanol. By decomposing methanol, we can produce ammonia. When ammonia decomposes, it generates ethylene and propylene. If it continues to break down, we can get textiles. This is a chain reaction of gases.”
For this reason, he stated that the Sarawak government hopes to become a natural gas aggregator. With this natural gas, new industries can be created, and talented workers are needed to separate the components of this natural gas.
Abang Johari made the above remarks today at the 9th Graduation Ceremony of the Sarawak Centre of Technical Excellence (CENTEXS).
He added that this gas is a basic material for energy production, especially for creating synthetic gas, known as syngas, which is produced by extracting hydrogen from water and combining it with carbon to generate synthetic methane.
Therefore, he said, Sarawak needs a skilled workforce equipped with the latest technology, particularly in the fields of hydrogen and Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS), to obtain syngas and generate energy.
“This is the government's plan. My colleagues in the state government and I will continue to move forward, we cannot turn back. I need people who can help us achieve this vision. They must be equipped with the latest technology so that we can achieve the common goal of making Sarawak's future more prosperous.”