Finland’s expertise in waste-to-energy and Malaysia’s growing capacity for carbon storage could form the basis for deeper collaboration between the two countries in carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, reports the Malaysian official news agency Bernama.
Juha Luomala, Senior Vice President for Communications and Public Affairs at Vantaan Energia, said that both countries have complementary strengths that can support their respective goals of achieving carbon neutrality.
“Finland’s model is strong in waste-to-energy and public acceptance, while Malaysia’s strength lies in its geopolitical storage potential for CO₂,” says Luomala.
“We can learn from each other by looking at one another’s projects. There are probably similarities and similar challenges, and it would be good to discuss them.”
Luomala was speaking to a Bernama reporter during the media programme “Climate Solutions from Finland” in Helsinki.
Vantaan Energia, one of Finland’s largest urban energy companies, operates several waste-to-energy plants, including a high-temperature incineration facility. The company aims to capture and store carbon dioxide from its plants by 2035.
According to Luomala, successful CCS implementation depends on consistent long-term policies, clear regulations, and adequate incentives at both the national and European Union levels. Infrastructure development for CO₂ transportation will also play a key role.
Malaysia, meanwhile, has been developing offshore CCS projects for years, such as Kasawari and Lang Lebah, which capture CO₂ from natural gas production and store it in depleted reservoirs. These initiatives are part of Malaysia’s National Energy Transition Roadmap, which targets carbon neutrality by 2050.
Source: Bernama
