Representatives of UEM Sunrise, Itramas and CMEC at the signing of the memorandum to develop the industrial park in Johor.
A RENEWABLE energy industrial park spanning 16ha will be built in Gerbang Nusajaya, Iskandar Puteri, Johor.
UEM Group Bhd, through its property arm UEM Sunrise Bhd, together with Itramas Corporation Sdn Bhd and China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) inked an agreement in Beijing, China, to embark on a strategic partnership aimed at developing the renewable energy industrial park.
The renewable energy industrial park is part of a one gigawatt hybrid solar power plant project and a flagship catalytic project under Malaysia’s National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR).
It was first announced by the government last July when memorandums of understanding (MOUs) were signed between UEM Group, Itramas and a subsidiary of CMEC – China Machinery Engineering Wuxi Co Ltd (CMEC Wuxi) – along with Blueleaf Energy and Hexa Renewables.
The companies announced their collaboration through multiple potential roles, including project development, financing (including equity investments) and commercialisation (including offtake of green electricity).
Signing the MOU for UEM Sunrise was its chief executive officer (CEO) Sufian Abdullah, while representing Itramas was its managing director Lee Choo Boo and for CMEC, assistant general manager Li Mingqiang.
Present to witness the signing were Itramas project development director Royd Lee, UEM Lestra acting CEO Harman Faiz, UEM Group chairman Datuk Amran Hafiz Affifudin, CMEC president Fang Yanshui, UEM Sunrise chief strategy and transformation officer Irwin Mohd Eusoff, CMEC 5th Complete Plants Division general manager Zhao Wenke and deputy manager Hu Jianhui and CMEC Wuxi chairman Xu Hong.
The announcement of the industrial park signified the second significant development in relation to NETR initiatives by UEM Group and Itramas.
It was strategically designed to attract Chinese manufacturers and suppliers across the renewable energy and electric vehicle (EV) value chains, as well as high-tech research and development (R&D) companies to establish its operations within the park.
Additionally, the industrial park will feature a renewable energy hub, housing a cutting-edge solar module factory and advanced research facilities, among other amenities, all aimed at spurring the growth of Malaysia’s energy transition and EV ecosystems.
UEM Group managing director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani said, “This signing is another milestone as we inch closer to realising our venture under NETR.
“As we forge ahead with the renewable energy industrial park, the strategic importance of attracting manufacturers, suppliers and industry players from across the renewable energy and EV value chains from China cannot be overstated.
“Securing partnership interest from China not only enhances the viability and impact of this national strategic project but also underscores the importance of cross-border collaboration in driving sustainable development.”
Sufian said, “The prime location of Gerbang Nusajaya in proximity to Singapore, complemented by access to major air and seaports significantly enhances our industrial appeal to the international investors.
“This renewable energy industrial park will not only act as a crucial driver in Iskandar Puteri’s economic growth and transformation but will also enable the renewable energy and EV ecosystem to support the nation’s energy transformation agenda.
“Building on the legacy of our other landmark projects such as Nusajaya Tech Park and Southern Industrial & Logistic Cluster in Johor, we are confident of developing a sustainable renewable energy industrial park on a 16.2ha lot with 730,000sq ft gross floor area of factories.”
Choo Boo said, “Today marks a significant milestone for Itramas as we deepen our collaboration with UEM Sunrise and CMEC to develop the renewable energy industrial park in Gerbang Nusajaya.
“We are particularly excited about the renewable energy hub within the park, which will feature state-of-the-art facilities, including a cutting-edge solar module factory and advanced research centres.
“These facilities will not only enhance our production capabilities but also propel us to the forefront of innovation in renewable energy.
“Together, we look forward to setting new standards in the industry and contributing to Johor’s growth as a dynamic hub for renewable energy.”
Fang said UEM Group, Itramas and CMEC Group had embarked on a long-term partnership, with a focus on renewable energy, industrial parks, infrastructure and data centres.
“CMEC, with its expertise in general contracting, design, consulting and engineering construction, will work closely with UEM Group and Itramas.
“Their goal is to attract potential renewable energy and EV manufacturers from China.
“CMEC’s experience in new energy, data centre construction and operation, warehousing and smart logistics aligns with the interests of our Malaysian partners,” said Fang.
