SARAWAK Premier Abang Johari Openg has reiterated he would fight any attempt to usurp the state’s inalienable rights to all carbon-related activities, including its capture and storage onshore and offshore, in the state.

Abang Johari, who said “certain parties are claiming authority over carbon matters in Sarawak” in his address at the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) special convention in Betong on Sunday, reiterated all carbon storage activities were “within the purview of Sarawak laws”, particularly the Sarawak Land Code.

He said that included granting licences to capture, use and store (CCUS) carbon resources.

That licence was issued to the state-owned oil and gas company Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros) in March this year.

“No other authorities have the right. Petros is the only resource manager as far as CCUS (in Sarawak) is concerned,” he said at ceremonies to mark the first onshore drilling in the state in several decades.

The site was named Adong Kecil West, located in block SK433.

Abang Johari did not name the authorities, but the only bodies that could make such claims were Putrajaya and Petronas.

He assured that the ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak bloc he leads would protect “this right for Sarawakians”.

The state has the country’s largest hydro capacity, over 60% of its gas reserves and over 60% of available CCUS, Abang Johari said.

“With the combination of all our natural advantages, Sarawak, I believe, is where we can continue to grow the socio-economic pie while protecting our environment and realising the net-zero carbon (goal) by 2050.” – October 11, 2023.