Sarawak needs to maximise benefits from its natural resources — Masing
KUCHING: Sarawak needs to maximise the benefits derived from its natural resources, says Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Masing.
In view of this, he points out that Brooke Dockyard can become the leading government agency in pursuing oil and gas agenda towards developing Sarawak’s own resources, especially the marginal fields in its waters.
“Sarawak needs to maximise the benefits that it can get from its natural resources, and Brooke ( Dockyard) plays a significant role as a state agency in utilising and leveraging its capabilities in this high- end engineering industry.
“So Brooke Dockyard must aim for more complex and highervalue projects in order to further assist Sarawak in generating revenue and employment,” he said in officiating at the ‘sailaway’ of the Anjung project platform at Brooke Dockyard’s Demak fabrication yard here yesterday.
The ceremony marked the delivery of the Anjung platform and jacket for Petronas Anjung Gas Development Project, some 180km offshore Bintulu.
Masing, who is also Minister of Infrastructure Development and Transportation, also pointed out the announcement made in 2015 about Petronas having agreed to award RM2.1 billion worth of contracts exclusively to Sarawakbased contractors annually.
He said Brooke Dockyard could work closely with Petroleum Sarawak ( Petros) to render the expertise for Sarawak to achieve this aspiration, adding that the Sarawak government would assist towards achieving such agenda.
He also said he was informed by Brooke Dockyard management that there would be 13 firm projects for Pan Malaysia Transportation and Installation works next year – 90 per cent of which are in Sarawak waters.
In this respect, he believed that it could deliver the job satisfactorily and at a competitive price.
On the Anjung project platform, Masing said he was impressed by the speed of the job, which reached completion ahead of schedule.
“I was impressed by Brooke Dockyard,andIamnowimpressed by this particular project and I hope that I will continue to be impressed. So keep it up and the state government will assist to secure more projects,” he said.
The topside was fabricated at the Sejingkat yard, while the jacket which includes piles and conductors, was manufactured at Demak yard – both owned and operated by Brooke Dockyard.
Petronas awarded RM189million contract to Brooke Dockyard on April 25 last year for the provision of engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning ( EPCC) of the wellhead platform.
According to Brooke Dockyard chairman Datuk Abang Abdul Karim Tun Openg, the Anjung substructure is scheduled to sail away to its final destination offshore Bintulu on Oct 5.
“This project was delivered more efficiently and exceeded all expectations in terms of time, safety and quality,” said Abang Abdul Karim.
He pointed out that the over 20 years of relationship with Petronas had made Brooke Dockyard ever ready to become a marginal field developer based on experience, knowledge and strategic assets.
The relationship with Petronas via its subsidiary Petronas Carigali Sdn Bhd started in 1997, serving to fabricate topside and jacket for its Malong A project – the first oil and gas-related project undertaken by Brooke Dockyard.
“As an organisation so much involved in this sector for many years, Brooke Dockyard is in a position to play an important role towards realising the aspiration of Sarawak to be actively involved in oil and gas sector,” he stressed.
Present were Demak Laut assemblyman Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, Tamin assemblyman Christopher Gira who is also a member of Brooke Dockyard board of directors, and Petronas vice president (group project delivery) Zakaria Kasah.