Page 11 - AsiaElec 32
P. 11
AsiaElec C L I M AT E AsiaElec
Around 60% of Central Asia seen as vulnerable to desertification
ASIA
HONG Kong-based nonprofit environmental organisation Earth.org has identified Central Asia as a region that is among the most vulnera- ble to desertification caused by climate change.
Over 60% of Central Asia is vulnerable to desertification processes, Earth.org said in a report. Although much of the Central Asian region was classified as having a desert climate, the issue has now spread toward southern
Kazakhstan along with northern Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and around areas of the Junggar Basin in northwestern China.
Glaciers in Central Asia are currently unable to replenish ice and, as a consequence, less melt- water is set to flow to nearby regions, leading to water shortages that affect agriculture and peo- ple’s daily livelihoods.
Petronas partners with South Korean firms on CCS opportunities
SOUTH KOREA
MALAYSIA’S Petronas said on August 2 that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with six South Korean companies that will see them collaborate on carbon dioxide (CO2) capture, transport and storage.
The six companies are Samsung Engineer- ing, Samsung Heavy Industries, SK Earthon, SK Energy, GS Energy and Lotte Chemical. The companies have agreed to collaborate on con- ceptual and feasibility studies towards establish- ing a full value chain related to carbon capture and storage (CCS).
Under the MoU, they will also evaluate potential CO2 storage sites in Malaysia as well as exploring other areas across the CCS value chain. According to the company’s announcement, that includes the strengthening of cross-border CO2 transportation.
“The feasibility studies undertaken through this collaboration will identify suitable technolo- gies for the CCS and transportation value chain, bringing Petronas closer towards establishing
Malaysia as a leading regional CCS solutions hub,” stated Petronas’ head of carbon manage- ment, Emry Hisham.
Indeed, the announcement is the latest in a series made by Petronas in recent months as it works towards the establishment of a CCS hub. These efforts are still in their early stages, involv- ing agreements that still need to be finalised. However, since the start of the year, Petronas has partnered with companies including Shell, Japan Petroleum Exploration (JAPEX) and Mitsui & Co. to study CCS opportunities in Malaysia. It has also signed an MoU with Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) to jointly explore opportunities for lique- fied CO2 transportation across the broader CCS value chain across Asia-Pacific and Oceania.
Petronas is targeting net-zero carbon emis- sions by 2050 and CCS forms a significant part of its strategy for attaining that goal. It is also aim- ing to preserve and restore the capacity of eco- systems to act as forest-based carbon sinks for CO2 sequestration, according to its website.
Week 32 10•August•2022 w w w . N E W S B A S E . c o m P11
