KUCHING: Local contractors have a lot of opportunities to land themselves lucrative contracts from Sarawak Energy (SEB). This is because SEB is seeking to maximise local content and widen the pool of qualified contractors for its projects.
Sarawak Energy Group chief executive officer Datuk Sharbini Suhaili said this is to realise its mission to provide affordable, reliable and renewable energy for the state.
“We are making real and tangible efforts to maximise local content and participation to benefit the local business community by providing opportunities through our procurement and contract activities as well as our contracting strategies and policies,” Sharbini said during the launch of a recent two-day briefing for contractors.
At the briefing the contractors were given an update on business opportunities available in many of SEB’s upcoming projects and qualification requirements to participate in tenders.
The briefing drew more than 200 participants and featured a series of sessions delivered by the various business units in Sarawak Energy, Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), Unit Pendaftaran Kontraktor & Juruperunding (UPKJ) and Electrical Inspectorate Unit (EIU) of the Minister of Utilities.
Also, in attendance were financial institutions namely Majilis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), Credit Guarantee Corporation (CGC) Malaysia Berhad, Ikhtiar Factoring, PMB Tijari Berhad, Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad & Small Medium Enterprise Development Bank Malaysia Berhad (SME Bank).
According to Sharbini, SEB has recorded a steady increase in contract and procurement activities awarded to local contractors annually.
He said last year local contractors were awarded RM1.198 billion worth of contracts compared to RM937 million in 2017.
Sharbini said local contractors should look at the business potential accruing from the state government’s recent announcement that it was allocating RM2.37 billion electricity provision to Sarawakians living in the state’s rugged interior.
Sharbini said the overall Accelerated Rural Electrification Master Plan aims to achieve 97% rural electrification (99% for whole of Sarawak) by 2020 through the Rural Electrification Scheme (RES) and Sarawak Alternative Rural Electrification Scheme (Sares).
He emphasised that the government funded programme being implemented by SEB presented local contractors with opportunities that they must seek to exploit.
Other major projects include the construction of Baleh HEP as well as several substations and facilities upgrading, he said.
Sharbini reminded contractors that a strong safety culture remains top priority amidst other focus areas of timely project delivery, high standards and environmental responsibility.
There were also sessions on acquiring the Sarawak Energy’s competency certification as well as familiarisation with Sarawak Energy e-Procurement (Sepro), a newly launched digitalisation initiative.
Also present were members of the Bumiputera Participation Board Committee (BPBC) Datuk Wan Kassim Tunku Zubir, Datuk Abang Helmi Tan Sri Ikhwan, Datuk Abang Jemat Abang Bujang, Allan Keripin Nangkai, Zawawi Embong and Stell Sindau. The event also featured a mini exhibition.
