By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, March 15: The establishment of the first integrated low carbon silicon-based materials factory in Sarawak that utilises raw material (silica) to the end product (solar panel) will have positive economic, social, and environmental impact on the region.
A cooperative agreement was signed by a consortium consisting of Adam Digital Assets Sdn Bhd, Haitai Solar, China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC), and Solar Pulse Sdn Bhd, and was witnessed by the Deputy Minister of International Trade and Investment (Mintred) Datuk Dr Malcolm Mussen Lamoh who represented Mintred Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
The cooperative agreement signing ceremony was held this morning at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching here.
The consortium has identified the location to build a plant in Samalaju Industrial Park Bintulu with direct investment worth USD1.5 billion (approximately RM6.7 billion).
Work on the project is expected to begin in early 2024 and be completed by 2025, with the factory fully operational by the beginning of 2026.
Following the ceremony, Mussen told the media that the consortium wants to introduce new silicon technology that is more environmentally friendly.
“This initiative is very much welcomed by Sarawak because we are moving more towards new energy, and Sarawak is blessed in that 70 per cent of our energy comes from solar, which is considered new energy.
“I believe that with this new innovation and new technology, Sarawak will be seen as a pioneer in the global warming initiative for low-carbon emissions, and the ministry supports the effort to reduce carbon emissions,” he said.
According to a press release, the project will also create an estimated 4,000 job opportunities once the factory is fully operational, with 3,800 skilled workers and 200 professionals employed.
“This achieves 40 per cent of the Sarawak Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 target of creating new employment opportunities in high-tech related industries.
“The consortium is committed to work closely with the skilled institutions, colleges, and universities in Sarawak and come up with designated modules specifically on solar technology to educate and to train more highly skilled personnel in the industry,” the press release stated.
Furthermore, Adam Digital Assets, a Sarawak-based company that provides innovative green energy solutions to the region, conceptualised the project.
Also present during the ceremony were Adam Digital Assets Sdn Bhd chairman Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, Haitai Solar chairman Wang Yong, CMEC representative Richard Zhang Tian Peng, and Solar Pulse Sdn Bhd chief executive officer (CEO) Mohd Izhar. — DayakDaily
