APEC’s Policy Guidance To Provide Robust Framework For Member Economies

From Nurul Hanis Izmir

LIMA (PERU), Aug 16 (Bernama) – Malaysia is confident that the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Policy Guidance will provide a robust framework for all member economies to develop and implement their hydrogen strategies effectively, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

Fadillah, who is also the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, said the collective effort would not only support the individual national goals but also contribute significantly to the global decarbonisation agenda.

“Malaysia welcomes the APEC Policy Guidance to develop and implement Low-Carbon Hydrogen Policy frameworks in the Asia Pacific.

“This initiative aligns perfectly with our own national objectives as outlined in the Hydrogen Economy and Technology Roadmap (HETR),” he said on the last day of the two-day 14th APEC Energy Ministers’ Meeting (EMM14).

Fadillah said Malaysia believes the development of comprehensive and coordinated policy frameworks across APEC economies is crucial for accelerating the transition to low-carbon hydrogen.

Such frameworks would not only enhance regulatory coherence but also facilitate the sharing of best practices, technology transfer and investment flows among member economies.

In Malaysia, he said, the country’s phased approach to hydrogen development, starting with grey hydrogen, transitioning through blue, and ultimately focusing on green hydrogen, reflects its commitment to a sustainable and low-carbon energy future.

“Our investments in advanced hydrogen technologies, such as solid-state hydrogen storage and pyrolysis production from palm oil mill effluent, underscore our dedication to innovation and sustainability.

“Moreover, we recognise the importance of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in this journey. Initiatives like the Sarawak Hydrogen Hub, which aims to export green hydrogen by 2027, demonstrate how collaborative efforts can drive significant progress,” he said.

Meanwhile, he emphasised the importance of PPPs among the member economies to accelerate the development and deployment of hydrogen technologies.

Taking Malaysia as an example, he said the country has witnessed the positive impact of such collaborations in several key initiatives.

“The Sarawak Economic Development Corporation’s projects, such as H2biscus and H2ornbill, are notable examples where public sector support and private sector expertise converge to advance hydrogen initiatives

“These projects not only aim to meet local energy needs but also position Malaysia as a key exporter of green hydrogen to countries like South Korea and Japan,” he said.

Hence, he said that to encourage private sector investments, the Malaysian government has implemented several policies and incentives, and these include tax breaks, subsidies for research and development in hydrogen technologies, and funding for pilot projects.

Fadillah also said that Malaysia is working on integrating hydrogen blending with natural gas in power plants and adopting green ammonia for co-firing, which will help decarbonise its power sector.

-- BERNAMA