KUCHING: Sarawak aims to be an exporter of renewable energy, particularly hydrogen, by the end of 2027, says Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

The Premier said the state is working with industry players such as Gentari Sdn Bhd as well as Japanese and Korean investors to explore the potential for developing hydrogen in Sarawak.

"The infrastructure will be completed by 2027 and by then, we will have a plant to produce hydrogen.

"At the moment we have confirmed offtakers from Korea and Japan. If we are to scale up our production, there is a possibility of exporting to other countries.

"What I'm saying is Sarawak may one day become a green energy supplier for the whole region," he told reporters after opening the Borneo Energy Transition Conference here on Monday (Feb 26).

In his speech earlier, Abang Johari said Sarawak planned to set up a hydrogen hub in collaboration with Gentari.

He said the hub would be the sole supplier of green hydrogen for downstream facilities in the state.

"This hydrogen hub concept is separated between upstream, or hydrogen production, and downstream hydrogen derivatives to illustrate that it can cater to multiple investors," he said.

Abang Johari said the hub would be managed and operated by SEDC Energy Sdn Bhd (SEDCE), a subsidiary of the Sarawak Economic Development Corporation, and Gentari's subsidiary Gentari Hydrogen Sdn Bhd.

"I hope this understanding between the players will send a signal that we are serious in producing clean energy for the world," he said.

At the conference, Abang Johari witnessed the exchange of documents between Gentari Hydrogen and SEDCE for the joint development of a centralised hydrogen production hub in Bintulu, to be known as the Sarawak H2 Hub.

SEDCE also exchanged documents for a joint development agreement with Samsung Engineering, Lotte Chemical and Korea National Oil Corporation as well as an initiative with Sarawak Metro to develop the Rembus hydrogen plant in support of the Kuching urban transportation system project.