By Amanda L
KUCHING, May 13: A proposal for Sarawak to develop its own oil refinery was raised in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly today as part of efforts to expand value-added activities in the State’s oil and gas industry, aimed at moving further downstream and keeping more economic value within the State.
Debating the motion of thanks to the Yang di-Pertua Negeri’s address, Batu Kitang assemblyman Dato Ir Lo Khere Chiang said the proposal aligns with Sarawak’s broader efforts to strengthen its energy ecosystem, particularly through enhanced participation in refining and processing activities rather than remaining solely at the upstream production stage.
“Developing a State-linked refinery would support long-term economic resilience and industrial growth, while also creating additional opportunities for local participation in the oil and gas value chain,” he said.
He added such a move would complement existing policies aimed at strengthening Sarawak’s energy governance framework and expanding strategic partnerships in the sector.
Turning to human capital development, the Batu Kitang assemblyman also raised the issue of education autonomy, saying it would help ensure training and skills development are better aligned with the State’s economic needs.
“Greater control over education policy would allow graduates to be better prepared for priority sectors such as energy, engineering and technical industries.
“Aligning education outcomes with industrial demand would also help address talent gaps and support Sarawak’s long-term development strategy,” he said.
The proposal for a State-owned refinery remains at discussion stage and was not presented as an immediate policy implementation. — DayakDaily
