SIBU (May 4): The Salim Water Treatment Plant upgrading project has surpassed 60 per cent completion and is scheduled to be completed next year.

Minister of Utility and Telecommunication Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi said the facility would double the plant’s production capacity to 300 million litres per day (MLD) from the current capacity of 150MLD.

“I understand that partly will be usable before the end of this year and we are hoping for that. This will also increase the supply of treated and clean water to Sibu area,” he told reporters after a working visit to the Sungai Sadit Acute System Water Supply Project here.

In his speech, Julaihi said an allocation of around RM300 million has been approved to double the Salim Water Treatment Plant’s production capacity to 300MLD.

He pointed out water supply issues in Sibu Division and throughout Sarawak as a whole are currently being addressed, but there is no overnight solution.

“What we are implementing now uses a budget from the Sarawak government amounting to nearly RM7 billion. This involves the construction of new water treatment plants statewide, as well as the upgrading of existing treatment plants, which is currently underway, as well as programmes to manage non-revenue water (NRW).

“With nearly RM7 billion approved by the Sarawak government – we have a total of 360 projects, and presently, the projects that have been completed and are under construction – are completed at a rate of 93 per cent. This means our achievement so far is highly satisfactory,” he said.

He said this information had been shared with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

Julaihi said the projects currently being implemented in Sarawak are based on the Sarawak Water Master Plan, as well as the Sarawak Water Grid System, in addition to carrying out programmes to address NRW by replacing ageing pipes or upgrading them where necessary across Sarawak, covering a total of 2,740km.

He added the pipe replacement and upgrading programme is planned over a five-year period.

Among those present were Rural Water Supply Department (JBALB) director Ahmad Salihin Che Said, Ministry of Utility and Telecommunication permanent secretary Datu Jafri Lias, Sarawak Water acting chief executive officer Malseni Jamal, Sibu Resident Abang Mohamad Porkan Abang Budiman, Bawang Assan assemblyman Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng, Temenggong Stanley Geramong, Pemanca Paing Tawi, Councillor Kevin Lau, and Joshua Ting – a political secretary to Premier.