By Ling Hui and Karen Bong
KUCHING, June 23: A proposed complex of onshore plants to be built at Bintulu’s Petrochemical Industrial Park that will form parts of the Sarawak Integrated Sour Gas Evacuation System (SISGES) Project will catalyse the development of untapped natural gas resources rich with hydrogen sulphide in the State.
This was formalised today through the Head of Agreement between the Sarawak government through Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas), Sarawak Shell Berhad and PPTEP HK Offshore Limited.
The signing ceremony held during the Sarawak Oil and Gas Services and Equipment (OGSE) Roadshow 2022 at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here was witnessed by Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Dato Sri Mustapa Mohamed.
“The SISGES project is a significant milestone for Sarawak to ensure a sustainable gas supply for both industry and domestic market.
“With the availability of gas supply, we will be able to spur and diversify our economic growth towards a high value downstream industry besides creating new industries,” Abang Johari said when speaking during the roadshow’s closing ceremony.
He added that this also reaffirmed Sarawak’s commitment to maintain a stable and conducive business and investment environment for sustainable growth of the oil and gas industry, both upstream and downstream.
“I am optimistic that with the exemption of Sarawak from the Gas Distribution Act and given full authority under our Gas Distribution Ordinance, Sarawak is able to chart its way forward confidently under our Gas Distribution Blueprint to further spur development in Sarawak’s oil and gas industry, upstream and downstream,” Abang Johari pointed out.
Sharing the same optimism, Mustapha emphasised that the project has the potential to create valuable opportunities for the OGSE community and catalyse the industry as a whole.
“As the world shifts towards using energy from clean and sustainable sources such as renewables, more opportunities will emerge in this new growth area.
“Thus, OGSE players should equip themselves with the right skill sets as well as technology to secure growth in this new area,” he urged.
Sarawak Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, State Secretary Datuk Amar Jaul Samion and MPRC chairman Dato Dr Ahmad Suhaili Idrus were among those present. — DayakDaily
