UEM Sunrise, ITRAMAS and CMEC, Sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to Develop a RE Industrial Park in Johor.

Back (Left to Right) : Royd Lee, Project Development Director of ITRAMAS; Harman Faiz, Acting CEO of UEM Lestra; Dato’ Amran Hafiz Affifudin, Chairman of UEM Group; Fang Yanshui, President of CMEC; Irwin Mohd Eusoff, Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer of UEM Sunrise; Zhao Wenke, General Manager of CMEC 5th Complete Plants Division; Xu Hong, Chairman of CMEC Wuxi; and Hu Jianhui, Deputy Manager of CMEC 5th Complete Plants Division.

Front (Left to Right): Lee Choo Boo, Managing Director of ITRAMAS; Sufian Abdullah, CEO of UEM Sunrise; and Li Mingqiang, President Assistant of CMEC.

UEM Group Berhad (UEM Group), through its township and property arm, UEM Sunrise Berhad (UEM Sunrise), together with ITRAMAS Corporation Sdn Bhd (ITRAMAS) and China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) inked an agreement, to mark the beginning of a strategic partnership aimed at developing a Renewable Energy (RE) Industrial Park, measuring 40 acres in Gerbang Nusajaya, Iskandar Puteri, Johor.

The RE Industrial Park is part of the one (1) gigawatt (GW) hybrid solar power plant project and is one of the flagship catalytic projects under Malaysia’s National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR). It was first announced by the Government back in July 2023, which saw Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) signed between UEM Group, ITRAMAS, and a subsidiary of CMEC, China Machinery Engineering Wuxi Co. Ltd. (CMECWUXI), along with Blueleaf Energy and HEXA Renewables, announcing their collaboration to participate through multiple potential roles including collaborating on project development, financing (including equity investments) and commercialisation (including offtake of green electricity).

Signing the MOU for UEM Sunrise was its Chief Executive Officer, Sufian Abdullah, representing ITRAMAS was its Managing Director, Lee Choo Boo and for CMEC, General Manager Assistant Li Mingqiang. Present to witness the signing were Royd Lee, Project Development Director of ITRAMAS; Harman Faiz, Acting CEO of UEM Lestra; Dato’ Amran Hafiz Affifudin, Chairman of UEM Group; Fang Yanshui, President of CMEC; Irwin Mohd Eusoff, Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer of UEM Sunrise; Zhao Wenke, General Manager of CMEC 5th Complete Plants Division; Xu Hong, Chairman of CMEC Wuxi; and Hu Jianhui, Deputy Manager of CMEC 5th Complete Plants Division.

The announcement of the RE Industrial Park signifies the second significant development in relation to NETR initiatives by UEM Group and ITRAMAS, which will be in Gerbang Nusajaya and strategically designed to attract Chinese manufacturers and suppliers across the RE 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 RE Industrial Park will feature a RE 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.

Dato’ Mohd Izani Ghani, Managing Director of UEM Group said, “This signing is another milestone as we inch closer to realise our venture under NETR. As we forge ahead with the RE Industrial Park, the strategic importance of attracting manufacturers, suppliers and industry players from across the RE 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 Abdullah, Chief Executive Officer of UEM Sunrise said, “The prime location of Gerbang Nusajaya in proximity with Singapore, complemented by access to major air and seaports significantly enhances our industrial appeal to the international investors. This RE Industrial Park will not only act as a crucial driver in the Iskandar Puteri’s economic growth and transformation but enabling the RE 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 (NTP) and Southern Industrial & Logistic Cluster (SiLC) in Johor, we are confident of developing a sustainable RE industrial park on a 40-acre (16.2 hectares) lot with 730,000sf (square feet) GFA (Gross Floor Area) of factories.”

Lee Choo Boo, Managing Director of ITRAMAS 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. This partnership not only reinforces our commitment to advancing Malaysia's energy sector but also highlights our collective efforts towards sustainable development. We are particularly excited about the RE Hub within the park, which will feature state-of-the-art facilities, including a cutting-edge solar module factory and advanced research centers. 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 Yanshui, General Manager of CMEC said, “UEM Group, Itramas and CMEC Group have embarked on a long-term partnership, with a focus on renewable energy, industrial parks, infrastructure, and data centers. The MOU signing marks the start of this collaboration. 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 center construction and operation, warehousing, and smart logistics aligns with the interests of Malaysian partners. The signing of the MOU is seen as a new starting point for all parties to leverage their strengths, explore various cooperation methods, and balance supply and demand to explore multidisciplinary cooperation.”

(17 May 2024)