KUCHING: The Ministry of Utility and Telecommunications (MUT) through Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS) is actively conducting continuous efforts to increase the use of natural gas in Sarawak in line with the Sarawak Gas Roadmap (SGR).

Its Minister Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi said the SGR Plan includes four strategic hubs in Miri, Samalaju, Bintulu and Kuching through several initiatives.

He said, the Miri Combined Cycle Power Plant (CCPP) project with a capacity of 500 megawatts (MW) is currently in the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) phase and is expected to operate commercially in the fourth quarter of 2027.

In addition, he said, the Bintulu-Samalaju Gas Pipeline Project along 65km worth RM1 billion supplies natural gas from Bintulu to the Samalaju Industrial Area (SIP) including the gas requirements of CCPP Sarawak Energy.

"So far, the Bintulu-Samalaju Gas Pipeline project is still in the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) phase and is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2025.

"The Sarawak Energy CCPP in Samalaju, as I mentioned earlier, has a capacity of 1,500 Megawatts (MW)."

He said this while wrapping up the debate for his ministry at the 19th Sarawak  Legislative Assembly Sitting on Monday.

He added that the Sarawak Virtual Pipeline System (VPS) project which uses trucks equipped with cryogenic tanks (cryogenic tanks) for the delivery of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Bintulu to Kuching is currently in the final stage of commercial discussions.

This project, he said, is expected to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2025.

"The Kuching Low-Carbon Hub is to develop regasification terminals and critical gas infrastructure in Kuching including plans to build a CCPP in Kuching that can reach a capacity of 5,000 MW."

Dato Sri Julaihi added that SGR also takes into account the interests of all Sarawakians through the initiative to access natural gas supply to their homes through the 'Gas Direct to Kitchen' programme.

He said, this programme started when PETROS installed a natural gas pipe system at Quadruplex Taman Ceria in Permyjaya, Miri.

"This project involves 3,000 houses implemented in five phases and is expected to be completed in 2027.

"This natural gas supply access project will be extended to the whole of Sarawak in the future," he said.

In addition, he said, PETROS had also provided an allocation of RM100 million to implement the natural gas pipeline network project in Bintulu.

This project, he said, includes trunkline channels and system network expansion involving distribution pipelines.

"These initiatives are part of the Sarawak Gas Roadmap (SGR) plan which aims to increase the use of existing domestic gas from 6 percent to at least 30 percent by 2030.

"The SGR plan is expected to attract more foreign investors which in turn will increase economic activity and create more high-income job opportunities in Sarawak." - UKASnews