His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has consented to implement the two-year Electric Vehicle (EV) Pilot Project scheduled to be launched on March 25.
This was said by Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yusof during the 17th Legislative Council (LegCo) session yesterday in response to a question by LegCo members Yang Berhormat Iswandy bin Ahmad and Yang Berhormat Haji Ramli bin Haji Lahit.
The minister said the policy and initiative of using EV is one out of 10 main strategies under the Brunei Darussalam National Climate Change Policy (BNCCP) in addressing climate change issues. A taskforce on EV has been set up led by Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC) and the Ministry of Energy in collaboration with the Brunei Climate Change Secretariat (BCCS).
The project will involve different stakeholders, and after two years of its implementation, an assessment and study will be carried out to gauge public response and determine its effectiveness.
This was also announced by Permanent Secretary (Energy) at the Ministry of Energy Haji Azhar bin Haji Yahya and Permanent Secretary at the MTIC Haji Mohammad Nazri bin Haji Mohammad Yusof at a press conference yesterday.
The project will allow authorities to assess the feasibility of sales in the domestic market and evaluate requirements and infrastructure for it.
The nations is targetting 60 per cent of total vehicle sales by 2035, according to Haji Azhar. This means around 0.23 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emission can be mitigated, equivalent to planting 4.6 million trees.
“The project is in line with the BNCCP which will pave the way towards low carbon emission and the country’s resilience in facing climate change,” Haji Azhar said.
Acting Director of the Land Transport Department Mohammad Aizam bin Haji Abdul Hamid said the pilot project will determine the long-run results and plans, adding that “the issue of charging station and maintenance as well as financing and insurance will be addressed in the pilot project”.
News courtesy of Radio Television Brunei
