Sarawak to diversify economy with biomass – Abang Johari

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Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg

 

KUCHING: Sarawak intends to diversify its economy through bio-economy, with biomass as an integral part of that transition.

“Sarawak can host 10 biofuels or biochemical plants in various stages of the development, mobilising 6 million dry tonnes out of the 19 million dry tonnes of biomass in four specific clusters of Bintulu, Miri, Tanjung Manis and Kuching in next 10-15 years,” said Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun
Openg today.

As such, a detailed roadmap and an action plan will be implemented by a Federal-State Taskforce led by State Planning Unit.

This was mentioned in his speech text read by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, who represented him at the official opening of International Biomass Conference 2017 (IBCM) at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching.

Abang Johari stated the Sarawak Biomass Industry Development Plan (SBIDP) launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in 2016, is an initiative under National Biomass Strategy 2020 driven by the State Planning Unit, Chief Minister’s Department.

He elaborated National Biomass Strategy 2020 in 2013 highlighted Sarawak as one of the potential state that could help realise the goal of making Malaysia a regional premier biomass processing hub.

From there, the state government started working with Agensi Inovasi Malaysia to understand the realistic biomass opportunity for Sarawak through a feasibility study led by a Steering Committee made up of relevant State Government representatives and chaired by the Director of State Planning Unit.

“The assessment showed that Sarawak has tremendous potential to leverage its biomass toward generating RM 4.8 billion in additional GNI (gross national income), 30,000 jobs and RM18 billion in investment opportunities throughout the entire biomass value chain.

“This is Sarawak’s unique opportunity to become the leader and potentially Asia’s first integrated biomass cluster, or BioHub as we have other existing bio-resources that could be integrated to compliment and exemplify the concept of a sharing economy,” he said.