OKTOBER 2022
Renewable Power To Sarawak’s Advantage
TOKYO, Tues: Sarawak’s renewable energy generation capacity has provided the State the advantage in attracting foreign investors over other regional competitors, the Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Haji Zohari Tun Abang Openg said here on Monday.
In the face of looming climate change crisis and the race towards renewable or green energy, Sarawak is well-positioned to attract foreign investment banking on its huge hydro-power potentials, he pointed out
He was speaking prior to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Pertama Ferroalloys Sdn. Bhd. and Sarawak Government at a hotel, here.
The MOU was inked upon the intention of Ferroalloys to expand its existing ferroalloys and ferrosilicon smelting facility in Samalaju Industrial Park in Bintulu, the first of such facilities in Malaysia that will see a total investment of USD600 million.
The Premier said Sarawak’s hydro energy generation with a total installed capacity of 3,452MW that had enabled the State to provide the most competitive tarif in the region would also be to Ferroalloys’ advantage as their products will have the edge over other similar products that are produced using fossil fuels.
The Premier and members of his delegation flew into the Japanese capital on Monday for a weeklong visit to take part in a hydrogen forum organised by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and his itinerary lines up various other programmes on the sideline including the MOU signing.
The Forum scheduled for this evening entitled “Time to Act” is a climate change movement that seeks to explore the broader use of hydrogen as non-fossil and emission-free fuel.
The Premier thanked Ferroalloys for its decision to expand its plant in Samalaju and for its intention to introduce initiatives as part of its corporate social responsibility to the state, particularly in human resource development.
“Sarawak is lacking in human resources, especially in material science,” he said in reference to the field most relevant to the company’s operation.
He suggested that the company’s management be in talks with Sarawak State Secretary to work out programmes including scholarships funding to Sarawak students through Sarawak Foundation to pursue further studies in selected fields.
In relation to work permit, he said Sarawak Government had decided to grant expatriates a five-year working permit as an initiative to facilitate, in particular engineers and scientists to work in the State and contribute to its development.
Earlier, Hirotaka Suzuki, Chairman of Asia Minerals Limited and PERTAMA Ferroalloy Sdn Bhd also spoke.
He said with the completion of the expansion the plant would have employed 1,000 staff and workers where 90 % would be locals.
Among those present were Datuk Amar Haji Mohamad Abu Bakar Bin Marzuki, Sarawak State Secretary, Datu Dr. Muhammad Abdullah bin Zaidel, Deputy State Secretary (Economic Planning and Development, Tan Sri Datuk Amar (Dr.) Haji Abdul Aziz bin Dato Haji Husain, Chairman of Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), Nor'Azam bin Mohd Idrus, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Malaysia, Tokyo, Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman, Chief Political Secretary to the Premier and
Also present were Datu Haji Abdul Hadi Datuk Haji Abdul Kadir, SEDC General Manager and Robert Hardin, CEO of SEDC Energy.
Earlier, the Premier received a courtesy call by the management of another Japanese company, Marubeni Corporation that gave a briefing on the company’s operation and the potential areas of co-operation with Sarawak.
Sumber dari : Sarawakku