Memorandum of Understanding follows SJ’s appointment in 2021 to study Sarawak State’s downstream petrochemical industry to attract higher value investments

Surbana Jurong (SJ) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Invest Sarawak, an entity under the State Government of Sarawak’s Ministry of International Trade, Industry and Investment (MINTRED Sarawak) today to develop cooperation and partnership opportunities to pursue industrial transformation, energy transition and industrial decarbonisation, carbon capture, utility and storage (CCUS) and industrial park development and management in Sarawak.

The key aims of the cooperation include identifying challenges and opportunities present for Sarawak’s industrial landscape, such as green economy opportunities and enhance and develop skillsets to equip the people of Sarawak for new opportunities; and the implementation of energy transition and industrial decarbonisation projects, integrated with greenfield and brownfield industrial activities. The partners will identify carbon capture opportunities especially in the power generation sector, such as potential carbon utilisation and sequestration projects.

One of the key features of the partnership include the joint establishment of an industrial park venture to implement best-in-class standards in the planning, development and future management of greenfield industrial parks that prioritises decarbonisation and sustainable power sources.

SJ has a strong track record and deep expertise in developing future-ready ecosystems covering renewables, carbon capture utilisation strategies, new energies and gas, energy infrastructure, and industrial decarbonisation strategies that can lead to low carbon and net zero outcomes, especially for hard-to-abate industries.

This is the second partnership between SJ and Sarawak’s MINTRED, following its first partnershipagreement signed in 2021.

Under the 2021 agreement, SJ was appointed to study the State’s broader industrial transformation plan to explore bold and innovative ways to meet the future needs of Sarawak’s economic development, with the aim of helping MINTRED transition to renewable energy alternatives, such as hydrogen, carbon capture, utilisation and storage as it takes steps to decarbonise.

The MOU was signed by Tan Wooi Leong, Managing Director of Energy & Industrial, and Global Renewable Lead, SJ, and Timothy Ong Wye Ern, Chief Executive Officer, Invest Sarawak at the Singapore Pavilion that is being convened at the COP28 meeting at Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The MOU reflects the commitment on both sides to pursue net zero goals.

“Sarawak’s geography with itsrich renewable and natural resources presents renewable energy engineers tremendous opportunities to reimagine a net zero future. SJ is excited to work with the State of Sarawak to maximise the value of decarbonisation across power generation and hard-to-abate sectors, which is increasingly driving the agenda in Sarawak’s future economic development and industrial positioning,” said Tan Wooi Leong.

“This partnership that is focused on decarbonisation opens up fresh opportunities for Sarawak to attract and sustain a steady flow of investors. That the partnership looks to upskilling talent in renewables certainly bolsters confidence in Sarawak’s economic prospects,” said Timothy Ong.