Sarawak study on gas and hydrogen resources to be ready this year

LAWAS: A comprehensive study to determine the potential of natural gas and naturally occurring hydrogen resources in several areas of Sarawak is expected to be completed by the end of this year, says Sarawak deputy premier Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.

Awang Tengah said the study, conducted by Sarawak’s petroleum company Petros, also covered the site where methane gas was discovered in Kampung Datuk, Kuala Lawas, in June.

“We have yet to receive the full report, but Petros has been granted a licence to carry out oil and gas exploration studies. I have been informed that the study is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

“We hope there will be stable reserves so that the industry can be developed and become a game-changer for the people in this area,” he said in Lawas after opening the Irau Aco Lun Bawang festival.

He said the methane gas discovery in Kampung Datuk had the potential to become a new catalyst for the development of the energy industry in northern Sarawak if the study confirmed the existence of sufficient reserves.

Sarawak premier Abang Johari Openg has previously stated that the state government, through Petros, would undertake a detailed study into natural gas and hydrogen resources in Gedong, Dalat and Lawas. Research was needed to determine the actual size of the reserves and whether they had the potential to be commercially developed.

On June 10, the fire and rescue department’s hazmat team confirmed that flammable methane gas had been detected at the Northern Coastal Highway construction site in Kuala Lawas.