Dr Hazland Abang Hipni

KUCHING, Nov 15: Sarawak is exploring the potential development of its 1,665 used oil wells as a carbon storage center, aligning with the state’s commitment to a green economy.

In a TVS news report, Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability for Sarawak, Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, highlighted that these used oil wells have the capacity to store at least nine billion tonnes of carbon.

This figure surpasses the carbon storage capacity in Sarawak’s forests, estimated to be between 750,000 million and one billion tonnes.

“That is a very important figure because compared to other figures that allow us to store carbon in depleted oil wells,” Dr Hazland said during his remarks at the opening ceremony of the Borneo Environment Conference 2023.

He further explained that the mentioned capacity doesn’t include the potential of the coastal aquifer (permeable rock layer), which can also serve as a carbon storage medium.

This carbon storage initiative is expected to contribute to offsetting carbon emissions in the region while simultaneously aiming to reduce a total of 600,000 tons of carbon emissions.

The project has the added benefit of generating income for the state through the promotion of a green economy. — DayakDaily