KOTA KINABALU: There are several ongoing feasibility studies involving the proposed development of Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) renewable energy technology, said state Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

He said the Sabah Energy Council had approved three local companies to conduct feasibility studies as a proactive step to involve local industry players in the development of OTEC technology in Sabah.

"These companies have been given a one-year timeframe to complete their studies. The findings of the feasibility studies will be submitted to the state government for consideration and approval.

"Following the Sabah Energy Council's approval, the Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS) has issued Conditional Letters of Award to the three companies for sustainable energy development.

"ECoS has also received interest from foreign companies in Australia and the United Kingdom to develop OTEC in Sabah, and these proposals are currently under review," he said in response to Datuk Yong Teck Lee (SAPP-nominated assemblyman) who asked about the progress of OTEC following the passing of laws related to the renewable energy technology.

Hajiji said that there was also a preliminary feasibility study for the development of a pilot OTEC project that is expected to be completed by year-end.

This study, conducted by Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and Universiti Malaysia Sabah, is being funded by the Shell Marine Renewable Programme.

"OTEC is a renewable energy element that utilises the temperature difference between deep-sea water and surface seawater to generate electricity.

"Based on consultants' findings, Sabah has the potential to produce 20,000 megawatts, with 15,000 megawatts in the West Coast region and 5,000 megawatts in the East Coast region," he said in response to a question that was asked during the question-and-answer session.

He said the Sabah Maju Jaya (SSMJ) Secretariat had outlined four key components of blue economy exploration: harvesting living marine resources, extracting non-living resources and generating new resources, conducting trade and commerce within and around the sea, and responding to challenges related to ocean health.

Hajiji also raised the protection efforts to reduce and address global warming and carbon reduction. Among them is coastal protection, through the launching of the Sabah Mangrove Action Plan 2024-2033 on Oct 29.

Malaysia holds 4.7 per cent of the world's mangroves, ranking sixth globally after Indonesia, Brazil, Australia, Mexico and Nigeria.

"According to a 2022 study, Sabah has the largest mangrove forest in Malaysia, covering 390,526 hectares (60 per cent) of the national total, with the remainder in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak."

For Non-Living Resource Extraction and New Energy Generation (component), Hajiji said that it would include renewable energy, oil and gas, seawater desalination and seabed mineral extraction.

The seawater desalination industry, through JETAMA Sdn Bhd, has introduced an innovative desalination system to be installed at the POIC Lahad Datu industrial park. The programme is expected to commence in March 2025 once system installation is complete.

The project will be monitored over three months and, if successful, desalinated seawater will be supplied to industrial investors at POIC Lahad Datu. This system will deliver 2.5 million litres of industrial water daily, with capacity adjustments based on demand.

Regarding seabed mineral exploration, the Secretariat has received numerous inquiries about resources like gold, copper, lead and cobalt.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/11/1136046/hajiji-feasibility-studies-ocean-thermal-energy-conversion-tech