KUCHING, May 22: A total of 551 gas distribution licences have been issued in Sarawak since the implementation of the amended Distribution of Gas Ordinance 2016 (DGO 2016) in 2023, with enforcement actions also being taken against unlicensed operators.
Deputy Minister of Utility and Telecommunication (Sarawak Energy Berhad and Petros), Datuk Ibrahim Baki, revealed that 14 licences were issued to upstream industry players and 537 to downstream players operating under the amended ordinance.
Ibrahim, who is also Satok assemblyman (GPS-PBB), added that 10 non-compliance notices were issued to parties found distributing gas without a valid license.
He was responding to Daro assemblyman Safiee Ahmad (GPS-PBB) during the question-and-answer (Q&A) session of the first meeting of the fourth term of the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) at the DUS Complex here today.
Safiee asked about the current progress of regulatory activities in facilitating and expanding gas distribution in Sarawak since the enforcement of the Gas Distribution (Amendment) Bill 2023.
As for the supplementary questions, Safiee asked about the types of licences issued under the Distribution of Gas Ordinance (DGO) 2016 and the penalties for operating without a valid licence under the same ordinance.
Ibrahim explained that licences issued under Section 7 of DGO 2016 cover various activities, including import of gas for regasification, processing, treatment, separation, utilisation, distribution, regasification, transportation, pipeline and equipment maintenance, supply, and retail of gas.
“Any party operating without a licence may be fined up to RM20 million for the first offence and up to 10 times that amount for subsequent offences under Section 21A of DGO 2016,” he said.
Deputy Minister of Utility and Telecommunication (Sarawak Energy Berhad and Petros), Datuk Ibrahim Baki, revealed that 14 licences were issued to upstream industry players and 537 to downstream players operating under the amended ordinance.
Ibrahim, who is also Satok assemblyman (GPS-PBB), added that 10 non-compliance notices were issued to parties found distributing gas without a valid license.
He was responding to Daro assemblyman Safiee Ahmad (GPS-PBB) during the question-and-answer (Q&A) session of the first meeting of the fourth term of the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) at the DUS Complex here today.
Safiee asked about the current progress of regulatory activities in facilitating and expanding gas distribution in Sarawak since the enforcement of the Gas Distribution (Amendment) Bill 2023.
As for the supplementary questions, Safiee asked about the types of licences issued under the Distribution of Gas Ordinance (DGO) 2016 and the penalties for operating without a valid licence under the same ordinance.
Ibrahim explained that licences issued under Section 7 of DGO 2016 cover various activities, including import of gas for regasification, processing, treatment, separation, utilisation, distribution, regasification, transportation, pipeline and equipment maintenance, supply, and retail of gas.
“Any party operating without a licence may be fined up to RM20 million for the first offence and up to 10 times that amount for subsequent offences under Section 21A of DGO 2016,” he said.