Three hydrogen buses repurposed for vocational, research use at Sarawak Skills campus

KUCHING (March 31): Three six-year-old hydrogen buses have been placed at the Sarawak Skills campus grounds to serve vocational, academic, and research purposes.

According to the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas), the buses were originally deployed for trial operations in 2020 and have now been repurposed to support the state’s hydrogen-powered public transport initiatives.

Deputy State Secretary (Economic Planning and Development) Dato Sri Dr Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel visited the Sarawak Metro Hydrogen Bus facility at Jalan Tabuan on Monday (March 30) to review the progress and readiness of the initiative.

During the visit, he was briefed on the outcomes of the trial, which successfully gathered critical operational data and technical insights ahead of a larger rollout of hydrogen-powered buses, expected to begin in phases from the second half of 2026.

The trial also helped raise public awareness of hydrogen fuel technology, highlighting its safety, reliability, and environmental benefits. The buses previously served passengers along key routes, including from Kuching city centre to Damai Central in Santubong.

Sarawak Metro emphasised that the pilot buses were intended solely for trial purposes and will not be integrated into the future feeder bus fleet due to differences in design and manufacturing specifications.

After extensive use since 2020, the buses are now being considered for new roles that will continue to contribute to Sarawak’s public transport ecosystem.

The trial has strengthened local technical capacity, enabling engineers, technicians, and drivers to gain valuable expertise in operating and maintaining hydrogen-powered vehicles.

The initiative has also enhanced Sarawak Metro’s capabilities in contract management and obsolescence management, with the insights gained expected to support the implementation of the Kuching Urban Transportation System (KUTS) and broader low-carbon mobility goals.

Also present during the visit were Centre for Technology Excellence Sarawak (Centexs) CEO Dato Syeed Mohd Hussien Wan Abdul Rahman, Sarawak Transport Ministry’s Deputy Permanent Secretary Mohamad Lotfi Tuah, and Sarawak Metro CEO Mazli Mustaff.