BY MA CHEE SENG AND LEE SHAW WEI
KUCHING: The Bintulu-Samalaju Gas Pipeline project, which includes a 70-kilometre-long gas pipeline from Bintulu to the Samalaju Industrial Park, is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025.
Minister of Utilities and Telecommunications Datuk Julaihi Narawi, said the project, which is currently in the design stage and expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2023, will cost RM600 million.
He stated that the operation of this project will increase the distribution of gas supply to users in Samalaju Industrial Park, including the Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) power station, which is currently under construction.
“It is also in line with the Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030) in which my Ministry through PETROS will expand the natural gas distribution coverage network to increase gas consumption in Sarawak through this key initiative under the Sarawak Gas Roadmap (SGR),” he said.
He said this while delivering his winding up speech for the ministry on Tuesday (Nov 29).
Julahi also stated that his Ministry, through PETROS, will expand the Pan Sarawak Virtual Pipeline System (VPS) initiative’s natural gas distribution coverage network to the major cities.
He explained that VPS is a pilot project for the city of Kuching that is currently in commercial negotiation stage.
“The success of this VPS pilot project has the potential to play a role as a benchmark for the implementation of the Pan Sarawak VPS project as a whole.
“This initiative is expected to benefit the people of Sarawak to enjoy natural gas resources at a lower price and encourage the growth of small and medium industries.”
