MoU to ensure good materials for Pan Borneo Highway
KOTA KINABALU: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was yesterday signed between the Borneo Highway PDP Sdn Bhd (BHP) and Sabah Quarry Owners Association (SQOA) to ensure sufficient availability of quality construction material at reasonable pricing for the Pan Borneo Highway mega project.
BHP managing director and chief executive officer, Shahelmey Yahya said that they expected the demand for aggregates to increase once the work packages in 2018 were awarded.
He added that having common understanding with the major supplier of the material ensured they would have a balance in the supply and demand of the commodity.
He said that the estimated amount of aggregate along for the construction of the entire 706 kilometers of the Sabah Pan Borneo project was 23 million metric tonnes over a timeline of slightly below three years.
He also said that the supply would come from almost all major quarry suppliers in Sabah and that they expected new quarries would be developed but subject to approval from the relevant authorities.
“Out of 35 work packages throughout Sabah, five were now under construction.
“The ongoing projects are in Tawau, Lahad Datu, Sindumin, Mile 32 Sandakan, and Papar.
“Work packages for Putatan and Inanam were awarded recently, while the remaining packages would be awarded this year,” he said.
Meanwhile, SQOA president, Datuk Wong Chen Khiong said that they were excited to play a role in addressing the challenges of ensuring ample quality supply for the mega project.
He added that they would ensure timely delivery of the project within their own capacity without compromising quality.
He also said that his members in Sabah had an estimated production capability of 18 million tonnes per year.