Coping with Bintulu's rising energy demand towards industrial growth
A new 500MW gas-powered plant is currently in construction under Sarawak Gas Roadmap to double the power generating capacity, according to Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said another upcoming 500MW project would bring Bintulu's total power generation capacity to 1.5GW.
However, he had not provided a time-line for the implementation of this second project when launching the RM466mil iconic Bintulu-Jepak Bridge, stretching 1.2km across Batang Kemena.
The Premier later renamed the bridge as Tun Taib Mahmud Bridge.
The 500MW gas power plant will be managed by Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros).
Abang Johari also announced the construction of a new dual-carriage road to link the bridge to Bintulu Airport, opening the way for urban expansion, including modern residential and commercial zones.
Bintulu was a small and under-populated fishing village 50 years ago.
The town has dramatically transformed with the discovery of offshore gas resources.
This led to the development of MLNG Satu liquefaction terminal by Petroliam Nasional Bhd which commenced operations in 1983.
MLNG now has nine production trains with capacity of 30 million tonnes per annum.
Bintulu's industrial development took a major leap with the launch of Sarawak Corridor for Renewable Energy (Score) in 2008, and the set up of the Samalaju Industrial Park for energy-intensive industries powered by hydro power.
The park has attracted large investments in aluminium and ferroalloys smelting plants and other industries.
Two weeks ago, Abang Johari performed the ground breaking ceremony for the RM2bil investment by OCI Tokuyama Semiconductor Materials Sdn Bhd in a manufacturing plant to produce high-purity semiconductor-grade polysilicon for export.
In January, state-owned Sarawak Petchem Sdn Bhd marked a milestone by starting the export of methanol to China from its plant in Bintulu.
Besides, a Sarawak Petrochemical Hub and Sarawak New Energy Hub are under development in Bintulu where manufacturing plants under Projects H2biscus and H2ornbill to produce hydrogen derivatives, and hydrogen are in the pipeline.
While on his working trip to Bintulu, Abang Johari also launched Petros's first piped gas project for the industrial town to residential homes in the Sungai Plan housing area.
The pilot phase involves the construction of a dedicated reticulation system, which includes a newly built city gate station, over 3km long distribution pipeline and internal piping for the initial 39 connected households.
Petros targets to extend the piped gas coverage to 3,500 houses by end-2027.
Before Bintulu, Miri is the only town in Sarawak to get piped gas.
Under the Sarawak Gas Roadmap, state-owned Petros said Bintulu has been designated as one of the four strategic gas hubs, alongside Miri, Samalaju and Kuching.
These hubs form part of a statewide 'hub-and-spoke' model that aims to deliver consistent and reliable gas supply to both urban and hinterland areas across Sarawak.
According to Petros, which is Sarawak' sole gas aggregator, investments in supporting infrastructure for the gas hubs are well underway. In Bintulu, Petros said it is constructing the 65km-long Samalaju Pipeline to supply natural has to industries in Samalaju Industrial Park.
'Petros is also progressing works on the gas to Bintulu Trunkline project, extending gas pipeline from the Kidurong Industrial Area to Jepak and Samalaju Industrial Park Ringmain, which will further enhance intra-zone gas distribution.
'For areas not yet connected to the pipelines, Petros has implemented a Virtual Pipeline System (VPS) using modular transport to deliver natural gas via road and sea.'
In Kuching, Petros said the first customer is expected to receive natural gas supply via the VPS by December this year, with a broader rollout planned for 2026.
'These efforts aim to raise Sarawak's domestic gas utilisation from 6% to at least 30% by 2030 in alignment with the Sarawak government's energy transition agenda,' it added.
Abang Johari also announced plans to implement the Autonomous Rail Transit (ART) System to connect Bintulu, Kidurong and Samalaju to enhance mobility.
The ART system is currently in advanced development in Samarahan-Kuching Divisions under Kuching Urban Transportation System.
Under Phase 1 (Blue Line), ART is expected to commence operations in stages from the fourth quarter of 2026.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
10 minutes ago
- Borneo Post
Sarawak cements leadership in good governance, public trust
Uggah (third right) and other distinguished guests during the launch of BIIS 2025 at BCCK here today. — Photo by Roystein Emmor KUCHING (July 30): Sarawak continues to set the standard in public trust and good governance through the establishment of strong institutions such as the Sarawak Integrity and Ombudsman Unit, reflecting the state's commitment to accountability, anti-corruption efforts, and transparency. Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said one of the most crucial factors in national success is public trust, which is earned through opennes and accountability. 'Our public service must be people-centred and value-driven, where integrity is practiced not just at the top but at every level,' he said in a speech read by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, during the launch of the Borneo International Integrity Summit (BIIS) 2025 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) yesterday. Abang Johari said that to promote good governance across organisations, it must first be institutionalised. 'This step includes strengthening the capacity and independence of institutions like the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) and local integrity units,' he said. 'Our civil service must also be subjected to meritocracy, digital systems and public-centric service systems in order to practice good support systems and transparency.' Abang Johari noted that Sarawak has made rapid strides in positioning itself at the heart of business and economic activity. 'This development shows that we are on the right path and aiming for the better vision in the coming years,' he said. Based on the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, he said the strategy identifies good governance and integrity as fundamental enablers of Sarawak's transformation. He noted that these principles are not just vital for achieving long-term goals but also demonstrate a firm commitment to serving the people with honesty, using resources responsibly and strengthening public institutions to be resilient and trustworthy. 'It is about shaping a society that is just, inclusive and accountable. It is about building a future where every citizen, regardless of background or status, has equal access to opportunities. 'It is about ensuring that every ringgit spent is done so with integrity and transparency,' he said. He also emphasised that making decisions in the public interest, upholding good governance, and maintaining public trust must remain key priorities for the government. The summit attracted more than 800 participants, including students from both national and international universities, as well as delegates and personnel from state and federal government agencies.
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Data centres to lead IJM growth surge in FY26
PETALING JAYA: With several data centre projects in the pipeline, next year could be a turning point for IJM Corp Bhd as it steps up its presence in the high-demand sector, says CIMB Research. The research house raised its new-job win forecasts for IJM for its financial year ending March 31, 2026 (FY26) and FY27 by 22% to 33% or about RM6bil per year as the group focuses on delivering one or two major data centre bids worth RM1bil to RM2bil each. The research house noted that as of March 31 this year, IJM's order book stood at a healthy RM6.6bil, or 2.6 times its FY25 construction revenue. 'Owing to an increasingly visible tender pipeline, we have raised IJM's FY26 to FY27 new order book assumptions to RM6bil a year, but these projections are still at the lower end of IJM's RM6bil to RM8bil new contract win target for FY26, suggesting further upside to our earnings forecast. 'We expect FY26 to be a breakout year for IJM, underpinned by five active data centre bids for global technology companies, with three already at an advanced stage,' the research house said in a report following a recent presentation by IJM. Beyond data centre tenders, IJM is actively bidding for government-related projects such as the Penang Light Rail Transit project, and hospital and road projects in Sarawak. It also witnessed an uptick in private tenders for industrial facilities. For FY26, IJM expects its 60%-owned subsidiary Kuantan Port to handle 23 million to 25 million tonnes of cargo, supported by the shipping of commodities such as bauxite, palm oil, liquid chemicals and iron ore. Going forward, CIMB Research foresees three game-changing catalysts reshaping Kuantan Port's long-term potential. One is the commencement of operational services on the East Coast Rail Link in January 2027. The second is Petroliam Nasional Bhd's proposed Southern Carbon Capture and Storage Hub in Kuantan, while the third will come from the second phase of Alliance Steel (M) Sdn Bhd's expansion plans. 'Of these three catalysts, we believe that Alliance Steel's expansion plans will directly lift Kuantan Port's growth trajectory, if the planned product lineup is approved. 'This could potentially double Alliance Steel's throughput volumes to between 14 million and 18 million tonnes from between seven million and nine million tonnes or 36% to 46% of Kuantan Port's existing capacity, providing greater impetus for the port to kick off its own expansion plans' said CIMB Research. Outside Malaysia, the group is a leading contender for a public housing project in Nusantara, Indonesia, worth over RM1bil. Over in Britain, IJM has been scouting for new opportunities from integrated road infrastructure, industrial and logistics facilities, and property redevelopment projects on long-term leases. This aligns with the group's broader target of having a 30% contribution from recurring income, said the research house. It noted that throughout FY24 and FY25, IJM has quietly established its name in Britain through a series of transformative collaborations. Through Innova, a joint-venture with Britain's Network Rail, IJM is finalising six over-station development sites with redevelopment potential once planning consent is secured within a 12 to 18 month timeframe. To boost the group's supply chain capabilities in Britain, IJM completed the acquisition of a 50% stake in British contractor JRL Group, which has been appointed as main contractor for 88 Royal Mint Garden, which is the second phase of Royal Mint Gardens development. In addition, IJM is also involved in The Wheat Quarter, which is a mixed-use regeneration project involving the old Shredded Wheat Factory site in Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire. 'Backed by a strong balance sheet, we maintain our 'buy' rating on IJM with a target price of RM3.70 up from RM3.40. At FY27 and FY28 price-earnings multiples of 16 times and 15 times, respectively, the stock is trading at or slightly below its historical mean,' the research house said.
The Sun
15 hours ago
- The Sun
110 Sarawak students receive RM28m Petronas education sponsorships
KUCHING: A total of 110 Sarawakian students have been awarded Petronas education sponsorships worth RM28 million to pursue higher education at leading universities in Malaysia and abroad. The recipients, selected from nearly 9,000 applicants, demonstrated outstanding academic performance, leadership qualities, and active participation in co-curricular activities during their 2024 Sijil Peperiksaan Malaysia (SPM) examinations. The students will enrol in courses such as chemical engineering, petroleum engineering, economics, and law at institutions including Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) and universities in the UK and Australia. The awards were presented by Sarawak Minister for Women, Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah on behalf of Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. Fatimah expressed gratitude for Petronas' long-standing commitment to nurturing Sarawakian talent. 'The relationship between Petronas and Sarawak is deeply rooted, and their efforts reflect a strong understanding of human capital value,' she said. She added that the initiative supports Sarawak's Post-COVID Development Strategy, aiming for high-income status by 2030 through education and skills development. Petronas senior general manager Akmal Niza Ahmad highlighted the company's dedication to empowering future leaders. 'Through Powering Knowledge, we invest in diverse programmes to benefit Malaysians at all levels,' she said. Since 1975, Petronas has sponsored over 40,000 students nationwide, including more than 1,300 from Sarawak since 2003. – Bernama
