By Karen Bong
KUCHING, Dec 11: Centexs Lawas, with the official launch of its Green Mining and Quarrying Academy today, is set to become Sarawak’s centre for green mining education and a regional hub for technical training in the mineral and quarrying industry.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, who officiated the launch, said the academy underscores the Sarawak government’s commitment to nurturing a skilled and specialised workforce, ensuring Sarawakians are prioritised in job opportunities within the State’s mining sector.
“We are fortunate to have Centexs, fully funded by the Sarawak government. Centexs Lawas will serve as a training centre not only for the northern region but for Sarawak as a whole. It can also become a regional training hub for Brunei, Indonesia, Sabah, Peninsular Malaysia, Labuan, and even the Philippines,” he said at the event held at Hotel Seri Malaysia in Lawas which was streamed live through Ukas Channel.
Awang Tengah highlighted Sarawak’s partnership with the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada, which will facilitate global-standard training programmes for Sarawak’s workforce.
“This academy is part of our strategic vision to cultivate talent capable of leading the mineral and quarrying industry toward international best practices,” he added.
Centexs CEO Dato Syeed Mohd Hussein Wan Abdul Rahman outlined new programmes under the academy, including the Level 1 Professional Industry Training Programme for industry workers, school leavers, and university graduates from non-mining backgrounds. Level 2 Twinning Centexs-UBC Programmes will offer bachelor’s and postgraduate degrees in mining and quarrying.
“The Green Mining and Quarrying training programme is crucial for Sarawak. CENTEXS has the responsibility to train, upskill, and reskill school leavers, graduates, and the workforce to meet the evolving needs of our industries,” he said.
The academy will also feature Technology Testbeds and applications to support commercialisation, including a Green Mining Testbed developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Urban Development and Natural Resources (MUDeNR).
“In our testbed pipeline, we intend to convert the existing systems into a Data Room model similar to the oil and gas sector,” he revealed.
Awang Tengah urged the people of Lawas and Limbang to seize these educational and employment opportunities, stressing the importance of a highly skilled workforce for the future of Sarawak’s mining and quarrying sector.
The Centexs Lawas campus was officially launched by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg on Aug 25, with a vision to establish it as a northern Sarawak regional centre open to neighbouring states and countries, producing a competitive and skilled workforce for the industry. — DayakDaily
