Abg Johari: State govt not content with development of oil and gas industry
“We are also focusing on the downstream development of one of the key economic sectors of the state’s economy which is the oil and gas sector,” he said.
He said the state government is not content with the development of the oil and gas industry in Sarawak because oil and gas products are still a commodity base meant for export.
For example, he said the production of liquified natural gas, ammonia and urea utilise natural gas as the feedstock for the industry.
“The irony is that the valueadded activities are done abroad utilising our natural gas as raw materials in their petro-chemical industries.
“We want to maximise the natural gas utilisation through downstream industries in Sarawak. In doing so, we want Bintulu to be the petrochemical hub in Sarawak through the establishment of SEDC Petchem Hub to realise this objective,” he said.
Abang Johari pointed out that the state has the biggest gas reserves in Malaysia at about 60 per cent, and it should be a basis for the state to go downstream in the activities of gas.
According to him, the methanol and derivative project is one of the two initiatives of the Sarawak government to embark on more downstream petrochemical industries.
Abang Johari said with the Sarawak methanol project, the state and the locals will benefit in terms of the transfer of knowledge and technology.
“With state of the art and high technology, the plant will require competent personnel, who are mostly engineers, technicians, operators and specialists to operate this plant.
“This will provide employment opportunities for our potential job seekers and transfer of technology,” he said.
He added the project’s immediate impact to Sarawak is the creation of job opportunities both during the construction of the mega project, which is anticipated to have a total workforce that could reach 4,500 workers, and operation of the plant which would be manned by a staff of about 300.
He said there will also be the spin-offs from the plant operation for other opportunities including its services and maintenance.
In the meantime, Abang Johari said Sarawak Petchem has commenced the one-year Technician Training Programme (TTP) in collaboration with Petronas Instep, where all the trainees are Sarawakians.
Currently, he said there are 74 trainees undergoing TTP at Instep and the second batch of 42 trainees will report at Instep this Nov 21.
He said the trainees are mostly fresh technical Diploma holders comprising 80 per cent from the B40 group throughout Sarawak.
This is one of the efforts and contributions by Sarawak Petchem towards upli ing the standard of living of Sarawak people especially from rural areas, he added.
Most importantly, the chief minister said the plant is 100 per cent owned by Sarawak.
“With a lot of spin-offs we need more water supply, more power, I think the level of expertise of Sarawakians will be developed over time, we will be able to play our part here.
“Hopefully by the year 2024 we will be selling methanol out from Sarawak,” he said.
Also present during the visit were Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan; Utilities Minister Dato Sri Dr Stephsn Rundi Utom; Minister in the Chief Minister Department (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Talib Zulpilip; Sarawak Petchem chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Husain; Bintulu Resident Datu Jack Aman Luat; and Bintulu Development Authority general manager Datu Muhammad Yakup Kari.