More than 100 hot springs found nationwide, offering clean energy prospects if backed by a national policy framework, says expert.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is seen as having strong potential to transition towards renewable energy (RE) through the exploration of geothermal energy following the discovery of more than 100 hot spring locations nationwide, including in Sabah and Sarawak.
Geology expert Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Hariri Arifin said the findings were the result of his research, which showed a wide distribution of hot spring areas across Malaysia, although their use among the public remained limited to tourism, recreational and light domestic activities.
“It is unfortunate because most of these hot spring areas are left idle without large-scale management. Some are also poorly managed and polluted with waste such as eggshells and food containers, even though these areas can be utilised more effectively.
“If we apply expertise in earth sciences and geophysics, these geothermal resources have the potential to be explored to power turbines in generating cleaner and more sustainable electricity,” he said when appearing as a guest on Bernama TV’s Ruang Bicara programme at Wisma Bernama here today.
Mohd Hariri, who is also the former president of the Geological Society of Malaysia (GSM), said several related agencies, including the Department of Minerals and Geoscience Malaysia, SEDA Malaysia and the Energy Commission, were actively studying the development potential of the sector.
However, the lecturer at the Department of Earth Sciences and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), said the main constraint in accelerating the development of the industry in Malaysia was not technology, but rather the absence of a specific policy framework.
“We need a National Geothermal Policy to attract investment and guide proper and sustainable exploration methods. Neighbouring countries such as Indonesia and Thailand have long benefited from this energy source even though we possess almost similar natural resources,” he said.
He added that UKM was currently collaborating with several related agencies to realise a Proof of Concept (POC) project in Ulu Slim, Perak, which had been identified as one of the high-potential locations for geothermal development in Peninsular Malaysia.
Meanwhile, UKM senior lecturer at the Department of Earth Sciences and Environment Dr Muhammad Taqiuddin Zakaria said the country should also pay attention to the potential of other earth resources, including Rare Earth Elements (REE).
“Besides REE, we also have hydrogen gas and biomass. In the current economic context, all these are very important,” he said.
Muhammad Taqiuddin said the distribution of REE in Malaysia was widespread, but the country still required more detailed mapping to identify the exact locations of the resources.
According to him, REE-related technology in developed countries such as the United States and China was already at a more advanced stage, while Malaysia was still at an early stage in terms of research and development from upstream to downstream phases.
“Malaysia is still in the research stage, but we have huge resource potential. If properly utilised, REE can become one of the drivers of the economy, particularly in the production of batteries and electric vehicle (EV) technology,” he said.
