(Bintulu, 9th) – Power supply has been restored at Cahya Mata Sarawak Berhad's phosphate plant in the Samalaju Industrial Park, Bintulu, Sarawak, enabling the recommencement of commissioning activities—an important step toward commercial operations.
According to a press release yesterday, the 142-hectare phosphate plant is operated by Cahya Mata Phosphates Industries Sdn Bhd and mainly produces yellow phosphorus (YP), technical grade phosphoric acid (TPA), and food grade phosphoric acid (FGA), all with a purity of 99.9%.
Cahya Mata Phosphates is controlled by Cahya Mata through its subsidiaries, with Samalaju Industries Sdn Bhd holding 79.07% and Cahya Mata Professionals Sdn Bhd holding 1.12%.
Cahya Mata Group Managing Director Datuk Seri Suleiman Abdul Rahman Taib emphasized that the project will help Malaysia realize its first phosphate plant, enhance national food security, and strengthen the resilience of regional supply chains.
He said: "The restoration of power supply at the phosphate plant marks a key step toward the plant’s commercial operations."
The plant mainly relies on Sarawak renewable hydropower and will resume operations in phases with production ramp-ups, aiming to reach full capacity by the first half of 2026, provided safety, quality, and performance standards are met.
The plant enjoys a strategic location adjacent to the Samalaju Deep Water Port, serving both domestic and regional export needs.
At full capacity, annual output will reach 48,000 tonnes of yellow phosphorus, 75,000 tonnes of technical phosphoric acid, and 60,000 tonnes of food grade phosphoric acid. Yellow phosphorus will supply the domestic market and be exported to Japan, Korea, India, Taiwan, and Europe; technical and food-grade phosphoric acid will serve local needs and be exported to Thailand, Japan, and Indonesia.
As Malaysia currently depends on imports for most of its phosphoric acid, Cahya Mata says local production at this plant will reduce import reliance, strengthen the national food manufacturing industry, and lay the groundwork for a downstream chemical cluster.
The project is also expected to create technical job opportunities and drive broader industrial development in Sarawak.
According to a press release yesterday, the 142-hectare phosphate plant is operated by Cahya Mata Phosphates Industries Sdn Bhd and mainly produces yellow phosphorus (YP), technical grade phosphoric acid (TPA), and food grade phosphoric acid (FGA), all with a purity of 99.9%.
Cahya Mata Phosphates is controlled by Cahya Mata through its subsidiaries, with Samalaju Industries Sdn Bhd holding 79.07% and Cahya Mata Professionals Sdn Bhd holding 1.12%.
Cahya Mata Group Managing Director Datuk Seri Suleiman Abdul Rahman Taib emphasized that the project will help Malaysia realize its first phosphate plant, enhance national food security, and strengthen the resilience of regional supply chains.
He said: "The restoration of power supply at the phosphate plant marks a key step toward the plant’s commercial operations."
The plant mainly relies on Sarawak renewable hydropower and will resume operations in phases with production ramp-ups, aiming to reach full capacity by the first half of 2026, provided safety, quality, and performance standards are met.
The plant enjoys a strategic location adjacent to the Samalaju Deep Water Port, serving both domestic and regional export needs.
At full capacity, annual output will reach 48,000 tonnes of yellow phosphorus, 75,000 tonnes of technical phosphoric acid, and 60,000 tonnes of food grade phosphoric acid. Yellow phosphorus will supply the domestic market and be exported to Japan, Korea, India, Taiwan, and Europe; technical and food-grade phosphoric acid will serve local needs and be exported to Thailand, Japan, and Indonesia.
As Malaysia currently depends on imports for most of its phosphoric acid, Cahya Mata says local production at this plant will reduce import reliance, strengthen the national food manufacturing industry, and lay the groundwork for a downstream chemical cluster.
The project is also expected to create technical job opportunities and drive broader industrial development in Sarawak.