He said sustainable aviation fuel could be considered as an alternative to the usual fossil jet fuel and the state aimed to be a global player in supplying sustainable fuel for airlines.

He also said Sarawak could play a part in supporting the global movement of achieving net-zero carbon emissions with the production of sustainable aviation fuel from the industrial cultivation of microalgae biomass.

“I have proposed to our Japanese partners that maybe we can set the microalgae biomass production level at 6,000 tonnes a month and the experts can work out how much land and carbon we will need for this.

“Of course (the proposed airline will use our sustainable aviation fuel) and I will make another announcement during the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition,” he said after launching the Chitose Carbon Capture Central Sarawak (C4 Sarawak) facility.

Abang Johari also quipped that Sarawak could be the next Saudi Arabia, but for sustainable fuels via environmentally friendly processes.

“The next thing is we will become a major producer and we can become another Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is rich in fossil fuels but we are producing different fuels,” he said, according to the Borneo Post.

The proposal for the airline was made two years ago. At the time, Abang Johari said the state was planning to establish an airline to be operated by Hornbill Skyways.

Previously, Abang Johari defended the state’s plans to set up its own boutique airline after the proposal was criticised by Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii who questioned its economic feasibility.

Abang Johari said he had done his homework on the matter, adding that the business model for the boutique airline would be different.

He also said the state government must intervene in the market to stabilise airfares for flights to and from Sarawak in view of the current high rates. He expected the airline to be operational within three years.