a day ago
Coping with Bintulu's rising energy demand towards industrial growth
KUCHING: Bintulu's power generation capacity will be tripled to 1.5 gigawatts (GW) from the existing 500 megawatts (MW) to cope with the rising energy demand in its rapid industrial development.
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.
