Malaysia: Sabah's largest clinker and cement plant to start operating by year-end

Sabah, a state in Malaysia, is set to have its largest clinker and cement plant operational by the end of the year. Borneo Cement Sabah (BCS) Sdn Bhd general manager Michael Kinsuan has announced that the RM2 billion clinker and cement plant is expected to begin operation by the end of the year.

The company is waiting for the Environmental Impact Study (EIA) report to be approved by the Environment Department (DOE) before starting the first phase of work. The clinker and cement plant is a project undertaken by a local company, Setia Alam Sdn Bhd, in collaboration with state-owned Sabah Economic Development Corporation (Sedco) with investments from China-based Sinoma Bhd.The construction of a 26km sealed road will be carried out first from Kampung Matiku to the BCS factory site in Sabah's interior Nabawan district.

Kinsuan also said that the electricity and water supply amenities were being built along with telecommunications towers that would also benefit residents around the area. The state government has gazetted a 280ha for the factory site in Bukit Sinobang, Kampung Kawayoi about 130km from Sabah's central Tongod town. 200ha has been earmarked for the clinker site, while another 80ha for the factory site as well for packaging, administrative office, and workers' quarters.

The plant will need about 1,000 skilled and semi-skilled workers.Kinsuan said the area had most of the six main ingredients for clinker production before it could be processed into cement. He said most of the materials - limestone, coal, clay, sandstone, and shale - were available in the proposed mine area, with only gypsum having to be imported from Indonesia.

The plant would be fully equipped with the latest modern and digitally operated machines, including a 300m Stone Roller Conveyor from the mine to the cement processing plant.

Source: The Star