By Doreen Ling
KUCHING, May 24: The Samalaju Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCPP) is expected to commence commercial operations progressively from 2027, with full combined cycle operations targeted by 2029; while onshore works on the Samalaju Pipeline are slated for completion by the third quarter of this year.
During a visit to the project sites, Minister for Utility and Telecommunication Sarawak, Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi noted the projects’ strategic importance in strengthening Sarawak’s energy security, supporting industrial growth, and ensuring a reliable and resilient power system.
In his text speech, which was made available to the media, he said that reliable and dispatchable power generation remains critical as Sarawak advances towards its aspiration of achieving 10 GW generation capacity by 2030 and 15 GW by 2035.
“These projects also reflect Sarawak’s balanced energy approach by leveraging natural gas as a cleaner fuel while complementing our hydropower resources—this is in line with our efforts of progressing towards a low carbon energy future,” he said.
Further elaborating, he also said that other than supporting Sarawak’s broader aspiration to become Asean’s green energy hub through the adoption of highly efficient Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) technology with lower emissions intensity, the Samalaju CCPP project is also noted for its future readiness for hydrogen co-firing also aligns with Sarawak’s longer-term decarbonisation and green energy ambitions.
He also highlighted how the projects contributed towards local talent development and industry participation, as upon operations commencement, approximately 163 local Sarawakian personnel are expected to support the Samalaju plant operations and maintenance across multiple technical disciplines.
“This is important. It ensures more Sarawakians are equipped to support, operate and sustain critical energy infrastructure, while creating greater local participation, employment opportunities and long-term economic value for the State.
“I am also encouraged to note that ongoing onshore works are being carried out by a Sarawakian contractor, reflecting PETROS’s continued efforts to strengthen local capabilities and participation across the oil and gas value chain.
“Sarawak Energy remains equally committed to boosting local vendor participation through structured contract packaging, vendor capability development, and prioritisation of Sarawakian contractors for the Samalaju CCCP projects,” he said.
According to a press handout, the Samalaju CCPP will comprise three CCGT blocks with a total generation capacity of approximately 1,500MW. Phase 1 covers two 500MW blocks and is currently under construction, while Phase 2 covers the remaining 500MW block and is currently at tendering stage.
As for the Samalaju pipeline, it is designed to transport up to 300 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of natural gas from Kidurong to Samalaju Industrial Park (SIP), forming part of the broader gas supply system linked to the Bintulu Additional Gas Sales Facility 2 (BAGSF-2), Take-Off Station (TOS-2), and Gas Receiving Facility (GRF).
The offshore component of the pipeline was completed in Oct 2025, covering pipelay, shore-pull operations and mid-point tie-in, thereby establishing the offshore connection between Kidurong and Samalaju. — DayakDaily
