KUCHING: Samalaju in Bintulu has attracted over RM52bil in investments over the years and created many economic spinoffs that continue to benefit the local business communities.
In stating this, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said currently, Samalaju has created more than 8,000 employment opportunities, with 83 per cent of the positions filled by locals.
“In 2022 alone, Samalaju generated a total of RM532mil in wages for workers, which ultimately flowed back into the local economy.
“For the same year, the export value generated from Samalaju was RM18.4bil.”
He said this when officiating at the earth-breaking ceremony for Longi Malaysia Sdn Bhd’s new plant at Samalaju Industrial Park, Bintulu on Friday (Oct 20).
Awang Tengah, who is also the Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment, said his ministry is currently implementing the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Cluster in Samalaju Industrial Park (SIP), which aims to support industries, particularly SMEs in the area.
“The project covers a total of 100 hectares, with infrastructure such as road access, drainage, Sarawak Energy Berhad sub substation, Telekom Malaysia cable underground trench and future high rise water tank.
“This project will be implemented in 10 phases. As of now, we have completed Phase 1 and Phase 2, consisting of a total area of 16.4 hectares.”
In addition, he said the Samalaju Water Supply Project will increase the capacity of the existing water supply in SIP from 80 million liters per day (MLD) 200MLD by 2026.
“This project is currently under tender preparation stage and construction work is expected to commence in Quarter 2 of 2024.”
On the other hand, he said the Samalaju Pipeline project by Petroleum Sarawak Berhad will deliver up to 300 metric million of standard cubic feet of natural gas (mmscf/d) from Bintulu gas treatment facilities to the SIP.
“The pipeline is expected to be completed in Quarter 4, 2025, and Petroliam Nasional Berhad has agreed to supply 150 mmscfd of gas to Samalaju via the pipeline.”
Awang Tengah, who is also the Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development, added that Sarawak Energy Berhad is also building the Samalaju 1000 megawatt (MW) Combined Cycle power plant and is expected to generate first power in 2026.
“Therefore, the Sarawak government will continue its endeavour to attract more high quality investments and facilitate their implementations, in our pursuit to become a high income economy by 2030.
“Ultimately, we want to see both the investors and our local entrepreneurs, especially SMEs and our people to benefit from these investments.”
