(Kuching, 27th) The Sarawak government, led by the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), has proven that they are consistent in their words and actions to ensure that Sarawak can gain more benefits from its natural gas resources through value-added products and services, rather than merely exporting resources overseas.
Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari stated that the recent export of methanol products to China from the methanol plant established in Tanjung Kidurong, Bintulu, marks the first step in Sarawak's journey to use more natural gas as a raw material for the production of other products, as well as for power generation to revitalize the economy.
“Every LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) vessel that leaves Bintulu for other countries without further processing domestically means that Sarawak misses the opportunity to benefit from the development of the natural gas downstream industry value chain.”
He expressed hope that not only will Sarawak's natural gas be exported but also used as a feedstock for further downstream activities.
“Developing the domestic gas industry will provide high-paying jobs and promote local economic development.”
Premier Abang Johari, in his speech for the Chinese Lunar New Year today, believes that this approach will make natural gas resources a major downstream industry, thereby transforming the local economy in the next five years and beyond.
He added that the ultimate goal is to raise the household income in Sarawak to be on par with, or even exceed, the national average.
In this regard, the Sarawak Premier thanked the federal government for recognizing Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS) as the sole gas aggregator for Sarawak.
“In terms of using natural gas for electricity generation, PETROS has developed a 2 billion ringgit combined cycle gas turbine 500 MW power plant in Miri, further demonstrating our determination to use natural gas for power generation for industrial use and export to neighboring regions.”
Abang Johari mentioned that Sarawak's natural gas industry is not limited to northern Sarawak because the Sarawak gas roadmap has laid out a comprehensive plan to transport gas to the proposed new deep-sea port's gas terminal in Tanjung Embang, Kuching.
“Although our natural gas has been exported to other countries for the past 40 years, it is not too late to use more gas to develop our own domestic gas industry, allowing Sarawak to benefit more from value-added products and services.”