Selasa, Januari 12, 2010

SGCC AND 1MDB JOINT VENTURE IN CONSTRUCTION OF DAMS AND SMELTER PLANT WORTH RM37 BILLION

KUCHING, Jan 11 (Bernama) - The construction of three hydroelectric dams and a smelter plant in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score) have been identified to be jointly developed by State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) and 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) in a US$11 billion agreement sealed today, said Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

"They offered to invest in three dams and one smelter. However, during a private conversation later, they said they would like to invest in much wider areas," he told reporters at the Hornbill Skyway after arriving from Kuala Lumpur here on Monday evening.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak witnessed the signing of a cooperation framework between 1MDB and SGCC in Kuala Lumpur. The agreement is for joint ventures in major projects in the Score, which will have a potential value of US11 billion (US$1=RM3.34).

When asked which three hydroelectric dam the Chinese were interested to embark on, Taib said "I will study and work on the details later."

1MDB is wholly-owned by the Malaysian government and was set up recently to drive strategic initiatives for long-term sustainable economic development and promote foreign direct investment into the country while SGCC is China's leading power transmission and distribution company.

Taib thanked Najib for his effort in encouraging people to invest in the Score.

"Now we have to work harder. It is a very good offer where the Chinese have a lot of expertise in hydro areas. It is an offer that is not easy to refuse," he said.

On other investments, Taib said he had suggested to the Chinese to conduct a study on how to exploit the coal deposit at Merit Pila, Kapit.

He said it is estimated the lignite coal field there has a deposit of 400 million tons of coal.

"I would like a joint study done whether to salvage the coal or let it be buried under the reservoir of a proposed hydroelectric dam near Pelagus, Kapit," he said.

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