New Boost For Score

BINTULU: Bintulu is set to become the country’s first petrochemical hub with the of fine chemical complex by Huchems in Tanjung Kidurong.

Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Haji Adenan Satem said that as a state rich with natural resources like oil and gas, Sarawak should exploit these natural resources deeper, and not to only focusing on downstream activities.

He said this new industry would drive the state’s industrialization agenda and boost its economic growth to achieve the Vision 2020.

“Sarawak aspires to become a developed state by the year 2020, together with the rest of the states in Malaysia and that is only five years. There is no other way to transform the state but through rapid industrialization based on the available natural resources,” he said at the groundbreaking ceremony of Huchems Malaysia’s fine chemical manufacturing plant at Tanjung Kidurong Industrial Estate here, yesterday.

“Currently, our economy is the third largest in the country after Selangor and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur. In 2014, our Real Gross Domestic Product (RGDP) was RM 78.6 million. We have successfully diversified or broaden our economy from agriculture-based to manufacturing and services,” he said.

However, he pointed out that in order to expand the state economy further, Sarawak would need to add more value or deepen the economic activities by shifting to higher value-added petrochemical industries.

He said to realize this objective, the state would also need to focus on downstream development in the oil and gas sector which contributed more to the state economy.

“In fact, the oil and gas sector has been identified as one of the 10 priority industries in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE). This is important because Sarawak contributes 26 per cent of the national petroleum production and 56 per cent of the natural gas production,” said Adenan.

On the decision to shift towards higher value added petrochemical industries, he said the state government was not satisfied with the development of oil and gas industry in Sarawak, in spite of attracting foreign investors and companies to the state.

He said raw materials to be transformed into higher value-added products should be processed at the place where they were located.

“We want to maximize the oil and gas sector’s contribution to the state economy. In doing so, we want Bintulu to be the petrochemical hub in Malaysia by inviting petrochemical industries to set up their plants here,” said the Chief Minister.

As a show of strong support, he said the state would be committed to supply natural gas to Huchems to ensure the success of the project and he firmly believed that new industries would have multiplier effects, including providing business and job opportunities.

He also reminded the younger generations to emphasise technical and vocational education to meet the demand for skilled workers by Huchems.

Meanwhile, Industrial Development Minister Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said this new industry coming to Sarawak signified that the state had managed to attract another major investment in SCORE.

He said that at present, 20 projects worth RM30.59 billion had been approved and the state government would continue to emphasise SCORE under the 11^th Malaysia Plan as SCORE would be the required trajectory for state to achieve greater industrialization in future.

He said as Huchems was the first foreign company to set up petrochemical plant in Sarawak, the state government would be looking forward to have more petrochemical industry. It has a deep sea port, abundant raw materials and business- friendly environment, making it the most suitable location for foreign corporations to set up operations here,” said Tengah.

He said called on the small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) to grab any opportunity generated by the petrochemical Industry soon.

Huchems Malaysia has invested US$1 billion (RM3 billion) to build its plant here, the first phase of which is expected to be completed in 2018 with commercial production to start during the first half of 2019.

또한 이 착공식에서는 주 말레이시아 한국 조병재 다사관을 비롯해 태광그룹의 박연차 회장, MIDA(Malaysian Investment Development Authority)의  Dato’ Azman Mahmud, 주 비서관 Tan Sri Datuj Amar Haji Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani과 주 의회 의장인 Datuk Amar Haji Mohd Asfia Awang Nasar가 참여했다.