Kota Kinabalu: The State Government will continue to ensure that issues related to the people’s basic needs, especially electricity, water and housing, will be resolved, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said the State Government helmed by him since September 2020 has implemented various efforts to ensure a more comfortable life for the people.
“We launched the Sabah Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2040 in September last year to shift away from non-renewable energy sources such as natural gas and depending on the river network in Sabah.
“Currently increasing demand for electricity supply can be overcome by speeding up hydroelectric production to meet the needs of the rapidly growing industry in the State.
“Renewable energy such as solar, biomass and biogas will further complement the electricity production capacity in Sabah,” he said.
Hajiji said the Ulu Padas Hydroelectric Project in Tenom, which is expected to be completed in 2029, will expand the electricity supply by connecting Sabah’s southern and southeastern regions, thus creating a more stable power grid.
According to him, the project will also help solve water supply shortages in the long term, with the production of 6,000 million litres of water per day.
The project will also be a “game changer” for the State, thus guaranteeing a better life for the people.
He said to ensure that the water supply becomes more stable, the Government has also increased the water supply capacity at the Telibong Water Treatment Plants 1 and 2, from 130 million litres of water per day to 160 million litres per day which can supply water in the North of Kota Kinabalu, including in Tuaran, Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).
According to him, the Government has also increased the water supply capacity at the Kogopon Water Treatment Plant in Papar to 80 million litres per day, covering the Papar and Kimanis areas south of Kota Kinabalu.
The project, which started five months ago for RM385 million, is expected to be completed in 2026.
Hajiji said the State Government had also established its own oil and gas company on December 7, 2021, which is SMJ Petroleum Sdn Bhd (now known as SMJ Energy Sdn Bhd) and as of December 2023, SMJ Energy has more than RM5 billion in total assets.
He said SMJ Energy has acquired profitable oil and gas-producing assets with strong cash flow through 50 per cent interest participation in the Samarang Production Sharing Contract (PSC), 25 per cent in the petrochemical plant (Sabah Ammonia and Urea Plant (Samur) in Sipitang, and a 10 per cent ownership stake in LNG9 which is operated in the Bintulu LNG Complex after the acquisition of Sabah International Petroleum Sdn Bhd (SIP) in November 2023.
“In addition, we also obtained a 25 per cent stake in constructing a floating liquefied natural gas facility known as ZLNG at Sogip, Sipitang.
“SMJ Energy has also successfully sold crude oil three times in August 2023, October 2023 and January 2024 through its 50 per cent stake in Samarang PSC to an international oil company, with a combined gross income of approximately RM371 million.
“For sure, we will continue our efforts to get more participation interests with Petronas,” he said.
