USD1 bln silica sand factory in the offing
SEPANGGAR: The State Government is currently in the process of negotiating with China investors on a possible collaboration in the establishment of a silica sand manufacturing factory.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau said that if the negotiation was successful, the amount of investment could reach up to USD1 billion and it can create up to 2,800 job opportunities.
The factory is expected to be set up on a 230-acre site at the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP),” said Tangau, who is also state Trade and Industry Minister.
“Actually, this company had already been operating in Melaka and they had been attempting to set up a much larger branch.
“I myself have visited their headquarters in China and I am very confident of their capabilities,” Tangau told reporters when met at the One Stop Centre Sepanggar Carnival 2019 opening ceremony yesterday.
Apart from discussions on the operational aspects, Tangau disclosed that his ministry had also studied the other aspects of the said company.
“There were many issues that we have discussed. Most importantly, we discussed the issue of gas price from Petronas.
“This is a very important factor, as well as others such as the price of land, sand and so on,” said Tangau, who is also the Tuaran MP.
He said that the State Government was also currently doing its best to ensure that the Federal Cabinet would expedite the process of giving back the Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) to the State.
Tangau made the comment after he was asked about the current plight of the manufacturers in the State due to the rising electric tariff.
“Hopefully, after we have taken back SESB, we would finally be able to regulate our own power supply.
“That would mean that we would be able to set our own electric tariff. This would be a key factor is addressing the power supply issues in the State,” he added.
Also present in the event was Warisan Sepanggar chief-cumOne Stop Centre Sepanggar Carnival 2019 adviser Mentoh Aru.
Tangau said he was pleased with the carnival’s initiative and expressed his hope that more Sabahans would take up such opportunities to further build their local businesses.