By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, May 22: The Pan Sarawak Virtual Pipeline System (VPS), which will start in Kuching, is still under commercial negotiation, says Sarawak Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Julaihi Narawi.
“The moment that the project can be implemented, then we will look into how it can be implemented in other cities in Sarawak,” he said at a press conference after presenting his ministerial winding-up speech in Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today.
He noted that prior to the VPS project, Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) and Miri City Council (MCC) on Feb 4 this year, have conducted a pilot project for natural gas distribution through pipelines to Medan Saberkas, Miri, for the use of its traders.
The pilot project was successful as it benefited 67 traders and would be joined by another batch of 46 traders for the next phase.
The VPS mega project undertaken by Petros refers to the distribution of natural gas through a coverage network to the major cities in Sarawak.
During a press conference on June 22, last year, Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Dr Hazland Abang Hipni said four main plants would be built in Kuching, Bintulu, Sibu and Miri to produce the gas.
Petros would also construct gas pipelines connecting residential areas and business premises to the gas plants, supplying piped gas in Sarawak at an affordable cost.
Also present were deputy ministers Datuk Liwan Lagang and Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi. — DayakDaily
