logo
Sarawak named among world's top transitioning industrial clusters

Sarawak named among world's top transitioning industrial clusters

The Suna day ago
KUCHING: Sarawak has been acknowledged as one of only 36 Transitioning Industrial Clusters worldwide and the sole representative from Malaysia, announced Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. The recognition, granted by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, highlights the state's commitment to green energy development.
'Last month, I was invited to speak at the World Economic Forum - Summer Davos 2025. However, due to my wife's health, I sent Sarawak Minister of Utilities and Telecommunications, Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi, as my representative. The organisers later requested my personal participation, but the slot was eventually given to the Prime Minister of Singapore. This demonstrates Sarawak's growing global influence,' he said during the Marina bridge project groundbreaking ceremony.
Abang Johari attributed Sarawak's international standing to its sustainable development policies. 'During my recent visit to Japan, officials commended Sarawak's focus on new energy solutions. We must maintain this momentum while ensuring development benefits the people, such as through projects like the RM400 million Marina bridge in Miri,' he added.
The Public Works Department (JKR) confirmed that the Marina bridge contract is expected to be awarded in Q4 2025. Once completed, the bridge will connect Miri Marina to Miri Peninsula, reducing travel distance to Pulau Melayu and Lutong from 10km to just 2km, cutting travel time from 25 minutes to five.
Abang Johari also revealed ongoing exploration in Miri's Adong area for potential natural resource reserves. 'Studies are underway to assess its viability. If results are positive, the state will proceed with extraction,' he said.
Additionally, Sarawak is planning to boost Miri's tourism sector with a new road linking Miri to Marudi and Long Terawan, enhancing accessibility to northern Sarawak's key attractions. - Bernama
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Petros launches Bintulu's first residential piped gas supply
Petros launches Bintulu's first residential piped gas supply

Borneo Post

time2 hours ago

  • Borneo Post

Petros launches Bintulu's first residential piped gas supply

Hamid (second left) presents a memento to Abang Johari after the launch ceremony. BINTULU (July 23): Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) marked a major milestone today with the official launch of piped natural gas supply to households in Sungai Plan – the first direct residential connection since gas processing operations began in Bintulu in 1982. The initiative is part of the broader Sarawak Gas Roadmap (SGR), a strategic state government plan implemented by Petros to boost domestic gas utilisation, improve energy access, and support sustainable development throughout Sarawak. The launch was officiated by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. Also present were State Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi; State Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom; and Petros chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr Hamid Bugo. The launch also coincides with Sarawak Day and comes ahead of Petros' eighth anniversary, underscoring the state's steady progress toward a more inclusive, secure, and resilient energy future. In a statement, Petros said the Sungai Plan project is its first residential piped gas supply initiative in Bintulu, marking a tangible step towards bringing Sarawak's gas resources directly to the people. 'The pilot phase involves the construction of a dedicated reticulation system, which includes a newly built city gate station, over three kilometres of distribution pipeline, and internal piping for the initial 39 connected households. 'Petros aims to extend gas coverage to over 3,500 households in the Sungai Plan area, by the end of 2027,' it said. The infrastructure enables homes to use natural gas for cooking and other domestic needs, offering a cleaner, safer, and more cost-effective alternative to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). 'By providing direct access to natural gas, we are delivering cleaner and more affordable energy solutions to local communities while supporting Sarawak's broader socio-economic ambitions,' said Petros Group Chief Executive Officer Dato Janin Girie. Beyond households, the piped gas initiative is designed to support the long-term industrialisation of Bintulu and nearby regions. Under the SGR, Bintulu is designated one of four key gas hubs in Sarawak, alongside Miri, Samalaju and Kuching. These hubs form the backbone of a statewide 'hub-and-spoke' model to ensure reliable gas supply across both urban and rural areas. 'Investments in supporting infrastructure are well underway. In Bintulu, Petros is constructing the 65-kilometre Samalaju Pipeline (SPL) to supply natural gas to the Samalaju Industrial Park, including to the 1,500MW Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) Power Plant currently under development,' Petros said. The company said it is also advancing the Gas to Bintulu (GtB) Trunkline Project, which will extend transmission infrastructure from the Kidurong Industrial Area to Jepak and the Samalaju Industrial Park Ringmain (SIPR), improving intra-zone distribution capacity. To serve areas not yet connected to pipelines, Petros is deploying a Virtual Pipeline System (VPS) that uses modular transport to deliver compressed natural gas (CNG) by road and sea. The first VPS customer in Kuching is expected to receive supply by end-2025, with broader rollout planned for 2026. As the sole gas aggregator for Sarawak, Petros plays a central role in developing and managing the state's gas distribution system. 'These efforts aim to raise Sarawak's domestic gas utilisation from 6 per cent to at least 30 per cent by 2030, in alignment with the Sarawak Government's energy transition agenda,' it said. Today's launch also coincides with Sarawak Day and precedes Petros' eighth anniversary, underscoring the State's steady progress towards a more inclusive and resilient energy future. Abang Johari Bintulu lead Petros piped gas supply Sungai Plan

Sarawak charts path to statewide piped gas access, says Premier
Sarawak charts path to statewide piped gas access, says Premier

Borneo Post

time2 hours ago

  • Borneo Post

Sarawak charts path to statewide piped gas access, says Premier

Abang Johari cooks tapioca as a symbolic gesture for the launch. BINTULU (July 23): Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has reaffirmed the Sarawak government's strong commitment to expanding piped gas infrastructure to every household in the state – a move aimed at enhancing energy accessibility and economic equity. Speaking to reporters after launching the piped natural gas supply to homes in Sungai Plan here today, Abang Johari said the initiative is part of a long-term master plan to ensure Sarawakians benefit directly from the state's own gas resources. 'This is just the beginning of our effort to supply gas to our people so they can enjoy the benefits of the gas extracted in our own backyard,' he said. He cited a successful pilot project in the Quadruplex Taman Ceria (QTC) housing area in Miri, where residents have seen savings of up to 40 per cent or around RM40 monthly after switching from gas cylinders to piped delivery. Determined to extend these benefits across Sarawak, the Premier unveiled the Sarawak Gas Roadmap, which outlines a statewide piped gas distribution system. 'We are developing a network of gas distribution hubs throughout Sarawak in Bintulu, Kuching, Miri, and possibly Sibu from where piped gas can be channeled to surrounding areas, even reaching remote towns like Kapit,' he said. According to him, the concept of piped gas is not new to Sarawak, citing earlier systems in Lutong, Sarawak and Seria, Brunei, that predate the formation of Malaysia. Abang Johari emphasised that Sarawak's legal framework, particularly the Sarawak Gas Distribution Ordinance, remains intact and continues to empower the state to regulate and manage its own gas sector. Under this framework, Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) has been formally appointed the sole gas aggregator for Sarawak, with full authority to manage supply from upstream to end users. He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for endorsing this via a joint declaration between the federal and state governments, which enabled Petros to operate as the sole legal and operational aggregator. 'All companies involved in the gas business must comply with our existing laws. This is a people-centric project, and through the hub-and-spoke model, it will benefit not just urban dwellers but rural communities as well,' he said. The roadmap, he added, will offer tiered benefits across various user groups – residential homes, SMEs, and heavy industries such as methanol production – with rates based on consumption levels. 'The greatest impact will be on ordinary Sarawakians, especially B40 households and those with lower incomes, by easing their cost of living,' he said. Abang Johari also welcomed the federal government's latest cost-of-living measures announced today, including fuel price reductions and other incentives. 'PMX announced his support, and we too are helping our people. Thank you for the initiatives. It shows that the people of Sarawak benefit both from Kuala Lumpur and from Petra Jaya, Kuching,' he said. Also present at the event were deputy premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Prof Dr Sim Kui Hian, Petros chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr Hamid Bugo and other state Cabinet ministers and their deputies. Abang Johari piped gas statewide

Sarawak premier: Bintulu drawing global attention as green hub
Sarawak premier: Bintulu drawing global attention as green hub

New Straits Times

time2 hours ago

  • New Straits Times

Sarawak premier: Bintulu drawing global attention as green hub

BINTULU: Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said that more companies from Japan, South Korea and Europe have been showing an interest in Bintulu, identified by the World Economic Forum (WEF) as an emerging low-carbon industrial cluster. He said it is one of the 36 clusters identified by WEF worldwide and only one of two in Asia. "This means we have become a focus of global attention. "We are under global scrutiny. Not only do we offer low-carbon industry, but we also provide infrastructure, including real estate, hotels and conference venues." He said this at the opening of a five-star hotel here. He said he foresees more investors setting up plants in Bintulu. "The state government will upgrade the transport network to connect Bintulu with the industrial areas in Kidurong and Samalaju." Abang Johari said under the 13th Malaysia Plan, the state government will provide autonomous rapid transit (ART) services that will connect Bintulu with Kidurong and Samalaju. He said Bintulu will be the second city in Sarawak after Kuching to introduce ART services. He added that just like in Kuching, ART vehicles in Bintulu will be hydrogen-powered, improving mobility between the three towns. He said the state government is building a 500MW combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) power plant to supply electricity to residents and industrial users in Bintulu. He added another 500MW CCGT power plant will also be built, bringing Bintulu's power capacity to1,000MW by 2035. He said the state government will also build an international school. "With the investments from the state government and private sector, I am sure that Bintulu will prosper." He said Bintulu has transformed drastically since the 1970s, from the construction of LNG plants to the establishment of the Regional Corridor Development Authority. He said the rapid transformation has extended to Kidurong and Samalaju. He said when he became chief minister in 2017, he promised to continue with Bintulu's second-wave development, including opening new areas such as Kampung Jepak across Sungai Kemena. "One of the promises I made was to build a bridge to connect the other side with the original Bintulu town." He said that the bridge was recently opened to the public.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store