By Karen Bong
KUCHING, July 22: The development of the Pan Sarawak Gas Pipeline has been identified as among key initiatives for developing the utility sector under the newly unveiled Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 by the Sarawak government to promote industrial development.
While the initiative is still under study, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg hoped that together with the existing Bintulu-Samalaju Gas Pipeline, Sarawak can increase domestic gas utilisation to more than 20 per cent of total domestic gas production.
“Under the utility sector, the key initiatives in the State are water and electricity supply projects to achieve 100 per cent coverage.
“Apart from that, the PCDS 2030 plan also intends to establish a single water entity to strengthen planning, management, operation, regulatory and enforcement functions of the water supply services,” he said when launching PCDS 2030 in conjunction with Sarawak Day at a hotel here today.
The utility sector, Abang Johari emphasised, is one of the seven key enablers that will catalyse the State’s socio-economic development towards Sarawak achieving developed and advanced status by 2030.
“Hence, Sarawak’s utility development aims to ensure that the services are provided equitably in a reliable, economical, safe and sustainable manner.
According to the PCDS 2030 handbook, other catalytic initiatives in the plan include the Smart Meter System Integrated with Renewable Energy (RE) Source.
The aim is to innovatively digitalise electricity metering and billing systems as well as integration of solar photovoltaic (PV) generation for self-consumption and export to the grid.
The Sarawak government has committed RM63 billion to implement plans under PCDS 2030 that will double the size of its economy and get Sarawak on track to become a developed and advanced State within ten years.
Deputy Chief Ministers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing and Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan as well as State Secretary Datuk Amar Jaul Samion, federal ministers and assistant ministers were among those present. — DayakDaily
