The proposed Sarawak Petrochemical Hub will see Bintulu’s transformation into a centre for the State’s petrochemical industry
The proposed Sarawak Petrochemical Hub that is being established in Tanjung Kidurong will transform Bintulu from a world-renowned LNG producer to a petrochemical hub.
“The State government intends to transform Bintulu from the current world-renowned LNG gas producer to a petrochemical hub with a future downstream value-added integrated petrochemical complex,” Chief Minister YAB Datuk Patinggi Dr Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg said during his working visit at a mega methanol plant project in Tanjung Kidurong on 2 July 2020.
According to the Chief Minister, once fully operational the hub is anticipated to create 74,000 jobs for Sarawakians and potentially contribute an additional RM16 billion to RM20 billion a year to the State’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He elaborated that with the establishment of the hub, Sarawak will be able to add more value to its natural resources especially in intensifying downstream investments of its oil and gas sector, as well as to lay the foundation for other forms of economic activities such as services and maintenance.
The hub will be developed on a 1,068-acre land in Tanjung Kidurong acquired by the State Government and will be managed by Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC), which will provide basic facilities and utilities required to enable the set-up of any petrochemical plant.
The land is located 15 kilometres north-east of Bintulu town and 36 kilometres from Samalaju Industrial Park. It is also surrounded by energy-intensive developments such as Petronas LNG Complex and Shell MDS, while adjacent to the mega methanol plant that is being established in Tanjung Kidurong.
As Bintulu is considered Sarawak’s industrial powerhouse, the Chief Minister noted that setting up the petrochemical hub there is ideal given the available infrastructure and facilities to run LNG and other heavy industries.
Furthermore, Bintulu is already equipped with infrastructure such as a deep-sea port and inter-modal road links, with a new port being developed in Samalaju.
