Premier launches Green Hydrogen conference, exhibition

KUCHING, 9 June 2026 - The Asia Pacific Green Hydrogen Conference & Exhibition 2026 (APGH 2026) was officially launched at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) by the Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg.

APGH 2026 is a three-day conference and exhibition running from June 9 to 11 and includes high-level dialogues, panel discussions, case studies, and technology showcases, all centred on the opportunities and challenges shaping the hydrogen economy. The event is hosted by the Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Sarawak (MEESty), in collaboration with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), organised by Borneo Business Connect Sdn. Bhd., and supported by Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) and the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB).

The launch was preceded by a Visionary Dialogue with the Premier of Sarawak, moderated by Director Emeritus of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Nobuo Tanaka. The exchange offered delegates a candid and wide-ranging look at Sarawak's position in the global hydrogen race. The Premier pointed to the State's abundant renewable energy resources and its electricity tariffs, which are among the lowest in the region, as a genuine competitive advantage in hydrogen production. He expressed strong confidence that the economics of hydrogen would improve markedly as global research matures.

Visionary Dialogue with the Premier of Sarawak, moderated by Director Emeritus of the International Energy Agency (IEA), Nobuo Tanaka.

“The cost will be very, very low in the future on hydrogen,” he said, adding that laboratories in Japan, China, Europe, and the United States are actively working to drive down production costs as the world increasingly recognises hydrogen’s strategic importance.

The Premier also drew on Sarawak's own clean energy track record to show the State's readiness for the transition ahead. Pointing to the successful shift from diesel generators to solar energy in rural communities over the past six years, he said that today, when diesel prices fluctuate, those in the remote areas and longhouses are not worried because they are using solar energy.

Chairman of Borneo Business Connect Sdn. Bhd., Tan Sri Asmat Kamaludin, in his welcoming remarks delivered by the Director of Borneo Business Connect Sdn. Bhd., Datuk (Dr.) M Gandhi, said: “Today, the world faces the dual challenge of ensuring energy security while addressing climate change. In this context, green hydrogen has emerged as a key solution to support global decarbonisation efforts and accelerate the transition towards a low-carbon future.”

Sarawak, he added, has demonstrated remarkable leadership in this space through strategic investments, international partnerships, and bold initiatives in renewable energy and hydrogen development. Tan Sri Asmat cited the State's abundant renewable energy resources and forward-looking policies as the foundation of its standing as a regional hydrogen hub.

“The hydrogen transition cannot be achieved by any single organisation or nation alone. It requires strong collaboration among governments, industries, academia, technology providers, and investors. APGH 2026 serves as an important platform for knowledge exchange, partnership building, and meaningful dialogue that will help accelerate the growth of the hydrogen economy,” he concluded.

The three-day event sees delegates engaging with topics covering the full hydrogen value chain, from production technologies and legal and regulatory frameworks, to blended financing, clean energy integration, and international project case studies. A dedicated Sarawak Hydrogen Economy Roundtable offers invited participants the opportunity for direct dialogue with State government agencies and key industry players. The conference concludes on June 11.