MIRI: Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) will be exploring how the state can further develop the oil and gas (O&G) industry in Miri, including on land.

In stating this, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg also said Petros is planning to re-visit the potentials on land, apart from the offshore activities.

“With the setting up of our own gas and oil exploration company namely Petros, we will be exploring how we can further develop the oil and gas industry in Miri, including on land.

“Miri’s oil and gas industry in fact started on land in 1910 and moved offshore in the 1970s. Petros is planning to re-visit the potentials on land, apart from offshore activities,” he said in a speech at the Federation of Miri Division Chinese Associations’ Chinese New Year dinner here Saturday.

Abang Johari’s text of speech was read by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas.

Reassuring Miri folk that their needs are always close to his heart, Abang Johari said under the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, one of its pillars is social inclusivity.

“Like other cities and towns in the state, Miri is also benefitting a great deal under this policy of inclusivity through the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor).

“For Miri Division, Unifor since 2017 until 2022 has given out grants totaling RM34 million for 245 projects, while another RM9 million has been dispensed for 11 ‘Projek Rakyat’ in the division,” he added.

Under PCDS 2030, Abang Johari said there are a number of catalytic projects such as the enhancing of port productivity and service efficiency in the state.

“In this respect, I have announced earlier of my approval of a project to dredge and deepen and build training bunds on both sides of the Kuala Baram access channel leading to Miri Port Terminal.

“With a deepened and improved depth by five metres chart datum plus the tidal range of 2.0 to 2.5 metres, 70 per cent of vessels can ply the Kuala Baram channel and Miri Port can handle container ships up to 1,000 TEUs (length 160 metres) as compared to the present of about 100 TEUs only,” he added.

He said the project, for which an estimated sum of RM238 million has been allocated, will help to mitigate flooding problems in Marudi and upper Baram areas.

“When completed, it will also be a new lifeline for more industrial activities including the small and medium size industries.

“This will contribute to lower shipping, transportation and logistics costs which translate to lowering costs to the consumers.”

In addition to that, Abang Johari said he wants the people continue to be united and work closely together for a stronger, better and more progressive Sarawak.

“Let us join hands to strongly rally behind our state Gabungan Parti Sarawak government so that all efforts to transform Sarawak into a high-income society by 2030 can come to fruition.”

During the event, Uggah presented government grants of RM5,000 each to Riam Road Secondary School and SM Pei Min. Among those at the dinner were China Deputy Consul General in Kuching Song Changhong, Federation of Miri Division Chinese Associations president Datuk David Goh, Deputy Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government Datuk Dr Penguang Manggil, Deputy Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Datuk Rosey Yunus, and Miri mayor Adam Yii.