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Towards the expansion of the downstream
energy sector and to further explore opportunities
in alternative energy sources, the ministry
continues to facilitate the global hydrogen supply
chain demonstration project jointly conducted
between Brunei Darussalam and Japan, and
operated by the Advanced Hydrogen Energy
Chain Association for Technology Development
(AHEAD).
The project aims to achieve global hydrogen
transport and supply technology for full-scale
hydrogen power generation by 2030. The project
reached a significant milestone after successfully
transporting hydrogen produced from the Sungai
Liang Industrial Park (SPARK) to Japan in the
form of a stable organic compound shipped via
conventional shipping methods, since December
2019.
Hydrogen was successfully extracted and
supplied to Japanese power plants on May
25, 2020. The landmark achievement marked
the success of the world’s first international
hydrogen supply chain.
The Brunei Fertilizer Industries (BFI) ammonia
and urea production plant will also add to the
expansion of the country’s downstream energy
portfolio, said the minister.
In 2019, the construction of the BFI project
generated local employment of 411. The plant
is scheduled to start operations in the second
quarter of 2021 with a production capacity of
3,900 metric tonnes per day of urea.
While focussing on the development of the
country’s energy sector, the ministry is also
committed to maximising job opportunities for
locals. Several directives have been issued
by the ministry, including the Local Business
Development (LBD) and Bruneianisation drive.
The LBD directive is aimed at maximising
local spending in the form of generating local
job opportunities and the local use of goods
and services. In 2019, a number of spin-off
opportunities driven by the Ministry of Energy
were executed, which contributed to 300 job
opportunities for locals.
Meanwhile, the Bruneianisation directive
for the oil and gas sector was issued to
enhance succession planning, progression and
employment opportunities for Bruneians, while
developing highly competent Bruneians on all
organisational levels.
As of December 2019, the overall percentage of
Bruneians among the oil and gas workforce was
reported at 70 per cent.
With future downstream developments and
ongoing upstream oil and gas activities, new
skills and technology will be brought to Brunei’s
workforce and market. Other upcoming oil and
gas activities include increasing exploration
activities, which will accelerate development of
new oil and gas fields especially in deep-water
areas.
Boosting solar projects
The Ministry of Energy is looking at developing
small- and medium-scale solar projects that
will suit Brunei Darussalam’s environment and
conditions, as the country has seen an increase
in the usage of green and renewable energy.
This was shared by Minister of Energy Dato Seri
Setia Dr Awang Haji Mat Suny bin Haji Mohd
Hussein during ‘Transition: Transitioning to our
Low Carbon Energy Future’ panel session at the
Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW)
2020, on October 26, 2020.
The minister said solar technologies are
already being utilised in Brunei Darussalam to
supplement the rural population’s energy supply.