Power-hungry industries to fuel Sarawak’s economy

MUKAH, TUES:

BY 2020, Sarawak’s economy will be fuelled by power-hungry industries ranging from alumimium smelting to bio-diesel production, says Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

He said Sarawak is in a position to meet the demands with its rich energy sources based from hydroelectric power to coal, especially in its mid-region stretching from Similajau in Bintulu Division to Tanjung Manis in the Mukah Division.

Speaking when declaring open the RM15.43 million Medan Ria Setia commercial and hawkers centre at the Setia Raja Boulevard here last night, Taib said towards this end the government had planned for the state to be able to produce 2,000 megawatts of energy by 2013.

“This is our first plan. Then two years later, we hope to increase this to 5,000 megawatts,” he said.

Taib said Mukah would play a pivotal role as it has more than 500 million tonnes of coal reserves.
Speaking of its potential, he said it would take the state 100 years to use just five million tonnes to produce 1,000 megawatts.

Calling on the people to prepare themselves for the big time ahead, Taib said the state’s mid-region, which he named as the Regional Corridor For Development or Recorda, would attract investments not less than RM15,000 million.

“An investment of this magnitude will require a lot of trained manpower, especially technical and in finance. So in the 10 years from now, we have got to plan very carefully. We will have to rely much more on new ideas,” he said.

On the Medan Ria Setia Raja project, Taib said it was jointly developed by the state’s Land Custody and Development Authority and Messrs Yoshikawa Corporation and Development Sdn Bhd to provide more exposure for entrepreneurs and to increase the number of Bumiputeras in business.

He advised them to be committed in giving their best in order to be more successful and expand.
(by Istiqomah Muhammad Chaerun & Nurul Hidayah Sulong)