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Several large investment projects took off recently,
notably the Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Bridge
(SHOAS), Pulau Muara Besar (PMB) Refinery and
Petrochemical Plant, and Brunei Fertilizer Industries
Sdn Bhd (BFI).
The construction of the SHOAS Bridge has facilitated
inter-district communication, travel and movement
of goods, enabling the improvement of the quality of
life in the Brunei-Muara and Temburong districts. Its
construction is a game-changer in the development
and progress of Temburong District, where several
projects have taken place.
Speaking at the 17
th
Legislative Council (LegCo)
session in March this year, LegCo member Yang
Berhormat Haji Emran bin Haji Sabtu said that the
opening of the SHOAS Bridge in March 2020 brought
various developments to Temburong District in
terms of infrastructure and the establishment of
the Temburong District Development Authority,
which plays an important role in monitoring the
developments and progress in the district.
With a link established between the capital and
Temburong District, Yang Berhormat Haji Emran
said that the fuel prices in Temburong District
currently match those in other districts. At the same
time, he called for relevant parties to continuously
monitor the prices of goods, including locally
produced items.
Yang Berhormat Haji Emran also expressed hope
for the implementation of plans and initiatives
such as the upgrading of several buildings in
Pekan Bangar; developing the area of Mukim Labu,
namely Kampong Labu; economic projects such as
the upgrading of Tamu Perayaan and Tamu Aneka
Selera; tourism packages; activity-based products;
the Temburong Green Initiative; and agricultural,
livestock and fisheries sites to develop the district
further.
He also called on relevant parties to set up a site
for a Forest Biodiversity Exhibit in the Temburong
District to educate the community and the
younger generation, in addition to emphasising the
importance of conservation.
Meanwhile,Ministerof EnergyDatoSeri SetiaDrAwang
Haji Mat Suny bin Haji Mohd Hussein during budget
deliberations at the 17
th
LegCo session explained that
the PMB Refinery and Petrochemical Plant has begun
its production to supply for the domestic market. The
project provided about 667 jobs for locals and enabled
the country to export at least USD3 billion worth of
products from the refinery.
The minister said that they will be emphasising
on global efforts toward a clean energy transition.
He noted that the Global Hydrogen Supply Chain
Demonstration Chain at Sungai Liang Industrial Park
is a clean energy milestone made by the country in
2020, where they had proved that long-distance
transportation in a stable form was feasible.
Meanwhile, Asia Development Bank (ADB) in its
economic outlook report on Brunei Darussalam said
the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) is forecast
to rise in 2021 and 2022, supported by robust export
growth from the plant.
ADB added that increased production at the plant
and BFI, starting production by the third quarter
of 2021, will boost exports. Private investment and
the construction industry will be bolstered by the
building of a Halal meat processing and distribution
centre and the Phase 2 expansion of the plant, valued
at about USD13 billion and expected to begin in 2021.
The plant, once completed in 2024, is projected to
increase oil refining capacity to 22 million tonnes
per year from the current eight million tonnes per
year. GDP growth is forecast at 2.5 per cent this year
and three per cent next year.
In addition, during the LegCo session, Minister of
Development Dato Seri Setia Ir Awang Haji Suhaimi
bin Haji Gafar said, “To support the initiatives of
the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism
(MPRT), infrastructure projects including Phase 1
of providing infrastructure for commercial paddy
plantation project in Kandol, Belait District covering
30 acres was completed. Phase 2 is expected to start
this year.”
“Ten units of terrace houses in RPN Kampong Rimba,
20 units of terrace houses at RPN Kampong Bukit
Beruang and 300 units in Kampong Lambak Kanan
were completed.”
“The completion of water treatment plant levels 4 and
5 increased clean water supply from 12-18 per cent
(33-38 million litres per day).”
He said with drainage projects in strategic places,
flooded areas were reduced to 47 per cent. “Sewerage
system rose from 92-94 per cent and coastal
protection increased to 43 per cent to address sea
level rise.”
To increase connectivity and improving road quality,
completed road projects included improvement of
Jalan Serasa, Jalan Kota Batu, Muara-Tutong Highway
to Lugu, Mengkubau Interchange and SHOAS
Bridge which connects Brunei-Muara District and
Temburong District.
The minister said the ministry is focussing
on addressing water supply security and
quality; providing housing under the National
Housing Scheme (RPN); opening up government
land to support economic growth; resilient
infrastructure to mitigate natural disasters and
climate change; and speed up development like
construction of schools and higher learning
institutions as well as mosques and government
buildings.
There have been a number of notable infrastructure
development projects over the past year.
AZLAN OTHMAN
in Development