A total of 253 Sarawakians have been employed under the 500MW Combined Cycle Gas Turbine (CCGT) project in Miri, reflecting efforts to prioritise local participation in major energy developments.
Utility and Telecommunication Minister Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi said the project has reached 45 per cent physical progress and is expected to commence commercial operations in the fourth quarter of 2027.
He said the plant will utilise approximately 75 to 80 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) of natural gas once operational.
“The project prioritises local participation, with about 253 workers being Sarawakians,” he said during his ministerial winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) today.
Julaihi said the Sarawak government is actively advancing efforts to increase the use of natural gas in line with the Sarawak Gas Roadmap (SGR), which covers four strategic hubs in Miri, Samalaju, Bintulu and Kuching.
In Samalaju, he said the 65-kilometre Kidurong–Samalaju Gas Pipeline project has reached 94 per cent completion and is expected to be operational by the end of the second quarter of 2026.
He said the pipeline will supply up to 300 MMscfd (million standard cubic feet of natural gas per day) of natural gas to support industrial demand in the area.
In Bintulu, the pilot Gas to Bintulu (GtB) Expansion project, which has been operational since July 2025, is supplying piped natural gas to 59 low-income households in Sungai Plan and Taman Saberkas.
“The project will be expanded in phases to cover domestic and commercial users in Bintulu, with a target of benefiting about 3,600 households upon full completion,” he said.
Julaihi added that Petroleum Sarawak Bhd’s (PETROS) Gas Direct to Kitchen initiative at Quadruplex Taman Ceria in Miri is currently benefiting 892 households and is expected to serve more than 3,000 households upon full completion.
He said the Kuching Low-Carbon Hub (KLCH) and the Sarawak Virtual Pipeline System (VPS) are also on the cards.
“All these initiatives form part of the Sarawak Gas Roadmap, which aims to increase domestic gas utilisation from 7.1 per cent to at least 30 per cent by 2030.
“The increase to 7.1 per cent from 6 per cent previously was driven by the full operation of the Sarawak PETCHEM plant in Bintulu,” he said.
