| Murum Contract Signed |
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| Thursday,October 23,2008 Posted: 16:48 BJT(0848 GMT) |
| From:The Borneo Post Article type:Reproduced |
KUCHING: China Three Gorges Project Corporation (CTGPC) and Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) on Tuesday signed an agreement for the implementation of the Murum Hydroelectric power （HEP）project in Sarawak.
The agreement signing ceremony, held at Juhe Hall of the Three Gorges Project Hotel, was the highlight of a five-day visit to China by the Malaysian trade mission delegation headed by Second Planning and Resource Management Minister Dato Sri Awang Tengah Ali Hassan.
Tengah, who is also Public Utilities Minister, represented Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud during the five-day tour which started from Oct.18. The implementation of the Murum HEP is in line with the state’s energy policy to develop its renewable energy resources, said Tengah during the historic ceremony.
CTGPC was award the contract after taking into account its vast experience in the development of the biggest hydro project in the world, he said.
It also had the capacity, capability, acceptable technical and financial proposals as well as commitment to deliver the project on time, he said.
According to him, the overall responsibility of implementing the project is under CTGPC while the state government and SEB will extend full cooperation in ensuring the Murum HEP project’s smooth implementation.
“Nevertheless, CTGPC has to ensure maximum local participation through the local component and transfer of technology. I am very pleased to note that there is a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the strategic cooperation to address the transfer of technology in technical and human capital development between the two parties,” he said.
Congratulating the parties on the signing of the Murum HEP contract and the MOU on strategic cooperation, Tengah said: “This will be the impetus in strengthening further the cooperation and relationship not only between the two parties but also between the two nations, especially the state of Sarawak and the People’s Republic of China”.
According to him, Sarawak has the full potential of about 28,000MW from relatively competitive renewable HEP and also coal, when fully developed. The State is expanding its coal-fired plant to take advantage of the huge reserves of coal estimated to be over on billion tones.
At the same time, the state government has embarked on other alternative energy sources suck as solar, wind, mini-hydros and biomass which will diversify the energy mix.
“This will enable Sarawak to be less dependable on fossil fuel which is depleting and subjected to price volatility,” Tengah reasoned.
He pointed out that the Malaysian government has launched five regional development corridors including the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).
“ Sarawak is confident that the development of the energy sector will boost its economy and development as well as trigger the energy intensive-based industries such as aluminum, oil-based industry, steel, glass and polysilicone.
“The other industries which have been accorded priority in SCORE include resource-based industries such as palm oil, timber, livestock, aquaculture and tourism,” he said.
“Under the leadership of Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, Sarawak has enjoyed political stability and prosperity. The government is pro-business and always encourages public and private sector participation in the state’s development,” he added.
“Like China, the private sector in Sarawak is actually the engine of growth and has contributed significantly in the generation of job opportunities and raising the quality of life of the people. Though we have quite substantial investments from China, we are inviting more investors from China to come to Sarawak to take the opportunities available especially within the SCORE,” he said.
According to Tengah, the implementation of Murum HEP is crucial to meet the increasing energy demand by industries by 2013.
Apart from increasing domestic demand especially by industries, there were also requests by neighboring countries and states to import energy from Sarawak, he said.
“This (demand for energy ) is due to the strategic location of Sarawak in the region. Our vision is to be the powerhouse not only for Malaysia But for neighboring countries as well. And we believe we can achieve this vision by utilizing all the indigenous energy resources available in Sarawak,” he said.
The EPC (engineering, procurement and construction contract ) was sealed between SEB chairman Datuk Abdul Hamed Sepawi, SEB managing director Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Hussain and CTGPC executive vice president Yang Qing and China Threww Gourges Malaysia Sdn. Bhd general manager Zhao Jianqiang.
The contract signing was followed by and MOU signing between Hamed and Yang.
Also present were Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Water Supply) Sylvester Entrie MUran, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Public Utilities Ubaidillah Abd Latip and SEB corporate affairs general manager Zuraimy KUshalili.
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Bilateral Visits