Photo by Patrick Goh/The Edge

KAMPAR (June 4): The government is drafting the development of an ecosystem and value chain of vehicles based on hydrogen energy by 2030, which is one of the agendas in the Hydrogen Technology and Economy Roadmap (HETR).

Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Chang Lih Kang said the development will focus on the manufacturing process and energy production on a large scale, while also being able to accommodate general demand.

"This project will be developed in phases. Although it is starting in 2030, we have recently passed the first phase, where it involved a 'showcase' session or the introduction of hydrogen technology [vehicles] to the public. We want the people to understand, and know that this energy can be used.

"In the second phase, we will build the hydrogen ecosystem as a whole, which also involves integrated development covering aspects of supply, manufacturing and demand for hydrogen itself, including hydrogen vehicles," he said.

He said this at a press conference after officiating the 24th Asian Physics Olympiad (APhO) Programme at Universiti Tuanku Abdul Rahman (Utar) here on Tuesday, which was also attended by APhO president Professor Kwek Leong Chuan, and Utar president Professor Datuk Dr Ewe Hong Tat.

Chang said that the effort to be realised is also one of the methods in helping the country reach the zero-carbon target by 2050.

In the same development, he admitted that the use of hydrogen technology is becoming more widespread, and that it will to some extent give competition to existing energy or fuel, such as petroleum and diesel.

"This is a world trend, where all other countries are trying to reduce carbon emissions, including petroleum-producing countries like Malaysia.

"We can't afford to avoid it. [It's] just [that] for now, even though it is seen to be able to help in maintaining the sustainability of the environment, the cost of using it is quite high," he said.

On Oct 5 last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia is in a strategic position to implement the HETR, which would allow the country to explore the global green hydrogen market worth at least US$189.19 billion (RM889.24 billion) by 2050.

The implementation of the HETR is expected to generate income of up to RM12.1 billion, with an estimated contribution of between RM49 billion and RM61 billion, to Malaysia's gross domestic product by 2030.