By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Oct 18: Sarawak could recover at least half the cost of developing the Tanjung Embang deep-sea port within 10 to 15 years, as sediment deposits from nearby rivers could gradually form new land along the coast.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the proposal takes into account increasing siltation at the mouth of the Sarawak River, where sediment carried by several rivers has made the waterway progressively shallower.
Abang Johari said the deposits could gradually form new land along the coast, potentially helping the State recover part of its investment in the port.
“When you study cost and benefit, we can recover the cost within 10 to 15 years, depending on the volume of sediment deposited there.
“But at least you can recover 50 per cent of the cost,” he said during the Sarawak Business Federation’s (SBF) 10th Anniversary Dinner at the Unit for Other Religions (UNIFOR) Complex last night.
He said the proposed offshore port would also help address the recurring expense of deepening the Sarawak River mouth, which requires substantial dredging work to maintain its depth.
“The Sarawak River is getting shallower due to sediment deposits from several rivers, including Batang Samarahan, Batang Sadong and Batang Lupar, which accumulate at the river mouth.
“The cost of deepening the river mouth is about RM300 million to RM400 million, and the work has to be repeated every three years. So, when you study the cost and benefit, it is better for us to put the port out at sea, about eight kilometres offshore,” he said.
The proposed Tanjung Embang port is intended to handle general cargo and gas, with a low-carbon approach forming part of its development.
Abang Johari said the project would strengthen Sarawak’s logistics infrastructure and improve trade links with neighbouring markets and export destinations.
The port’s gas-handling capabilities would also support Sarawak’s wider energy ambitions, with the State targeting power generation capacity of 10 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 and 15GW by 2035.
He described the targets as conservative estimates that could potentially be exceeded, adding that greater power generation capacity would help sustain electricity supply, attract large-scale, high-quality investments and create higher-paying jobs in Sarawak.
Also present during the event were Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian; Deputy Minister for International Trade and Investment Datuk Malcolm Mussen Lamoh; SBF life president Dato Sri Abang Abdul Karim Tun Abang Openg; SBF president Dato Jonathan Chai Voon Tok; and SBF’s 10th Anniversary Dinner organising chairperson Lohong Tajang. — DayakDaily
