LOCALLY produced sustainable aviation fuel will power Sarawak’s proposed boutique airline, Premier Abang Johari Openg said today.

The fuel, he said, is derived from microalgae.

Speaking at a press conference after launching the Chitose Carbon Capture Central Sarawak (C4 Sarawak) at Sarawak Energy Bhd’s Sejingkat power plant, 18km from Kuching, Abang Johari, however, did not disclose when the fuel would be tested on any aircraft engine nor if there are any aircraft companies producing engines to run on the sustainable fuel.

He said he will make all the announcements at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (Lima) Exhibition. Lima is from May 23 to 27.

Abang Johari said the environment-friendly sustainable fuel could be considered as an alternative to the current fossil jet fuel and Sarawak aims to be a global supplier of the fuel for airlines.

He said he had proposed to the state’s Japanese partners in the microalgae biomass production to set a production level at 6,000 tonnes a month.

If the fuel from microalgae is a success, the premier said Sarawak could be the next Saudi Arabia, but in sustainable fuels, alluding to the Arab country that derives its wealth from its large reserve of oil.

The proposed boutique airline could take to the skies within the next three years. – May 10, 2023.