JLAND Group (JLG) and Mitsui (Malaysia) inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaboratively investigate future business possibilities and strategic project developments in Ibrahim Technopolis (IBTEC) including Sedenak Tech Park (STeP) which will be done over the next two to three years.
The signing ceremony between JLG and Mitsui, through its wholly owned unit Mitsui & Co (M) Sdn Bhd (Mitsui Malaysia), was witnessed by Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi.
Within the immediate term of the MoU, JLG and Mitsui will perform a collaborative feasibility study on the development of a Hyperscale Data Centre, as well as a renewable energy (RE) facility in the form of a Captive Solar Farm to power the data centers in STeP.
Following the study’s conclusion, a joint venture (JV) partnership between JLG, Mitsui, and the project’s co-developers will be established to invest in, develop, and manage these projects.
According to Datuk Syed Mohamed Syed Ibrahim, JLand chairman and JCorp president and CEO, this project is a significant step toward realizing JCorp’s vision of a sustainable future and ensuring that the state and the nation achieve their decarbonization goals. In an increasingly data-dependent digital economy, they are proactively identifying and implementing RE sources for the future of decarbonizing data centers.
The statement added that through this collaboration, STeP — the flagship 700-acre (283.28ha) data center hub — is poised to attract global hyperscale data centers, not only by offering future availability of RE, but also with other supporting packages, including competitive green project financing from the market.
Meanwhile, for Datuk Akmal Ahmad, JCorp director of real estate and infrastructure division, the positive boom of the data center sector over the past years has brought the importance of sustainability and RE to the fore, as data center operators explore cleaner technologies to turn operations green.
They are thrilled to collaborate with Mitsui and RE co-developers to advance the decarbonization of data centers through the purchase of clean power. They are proud to be among the forerunners in hyperscale green data centers in Johor.
As co-developers in the partnership, additional members of the industry will contribute their expertise and knowledge transfer throughout the project investment, design, development, and maintenance phases.
Aside from IBTEC, which focuses on advanced industrial developments, environmentally friendly technologies, and the port industry, both partners will also look into other potential investment opportunities within JCorp’s portfolios as part of the MoU. RE, digital and mobility infrastructure, and high-tech industrial development may be the areas of interest.
