KUCHING, Dec 3: Assistant Minister of Utilities (Water Supply) Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi today launched the construction of the 400-meter Phase 1 of the Mild Steel Cement Lined (MSCL) Submarine Pipeline Project worth RM85 million in Sg Samariang.
The Submarine Pipeline work involves the installation of a 900-millimetre twin steel coated concrete pipe which is expected to be completed within three weeks.
According to Dr Abdul Rahman, the Samariang Water Supply Project (Phase 1 and Phase 2) is to ensure the reliability of treated water supply and meet the demands for Bandar Samariang and the surrounding areas until 2050.
“The construction of this basic infrastructure is in line with the vision of the Sarawak government to achieve 100 per cent water coverage in the State by 2025.
“With this, it will indirectly improve the quality of life and help to catalyse the socio-economic activities of the people, including the tourism sector,” he told reporters after launching the Samariang Phase 1 Submarine Pipeline construction project today.
Dr Abdul Rahman noted Phase 1 of the project is fully funded by the Sarawak government through the Ministry of Utilities, and it has been carefully planned by the Sarawak Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) as the implementing agency.
“Currently, it is still under construction and is expected to be fully completed in the first quarter of 2022. As of November 2021, the project’s physical progress is around 84 per cent,” he added.
The scope of the project involves the construction of a booster pump station with a capacity of 50 million litres per day, construction of three high-level water tanks with a total capacity of 12 million litres, and installation works of a 13-kilometre pipeline from Jalan Matang to Batu Kawa junction through the Federal Administrative Center (FAC) road to the new booster pump station.
This includes the installation of a three-kilometre long pipeline from the new booster pump station to the high-level tank and the installation of a submarine pipeline in Sg Samariang.
Meanwhile, with the projected population growth of approximately 200,000 and water supply demand of 100 JLS in Samariang and surrounding areas by 2050, the Samariang Water Supply Project (Phase 2) must begin before 2030 to ensure reliability and need for water supply to consumers are guaranteed. — DayakDaily
