KUCHING: Sarawak has taken a key step forward in realising its 10-year gas roadmap with access to an increase in supply of domestic natural gas to the state.

       This comes following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Petronas and state-owned Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros) on a staggered increase of gas supply from 450 million standard cubic feet per day to 1.2 billion standard cubic feet per day by 2030.

       Caretaker Chief Minister Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg said the Sarawak gas roadmap was designed to realise the full potential of the state's gas resources towards becoming a high-income state by 2030.

       He said the roadmap envisaged the implementation of economic activities from the development of additional power generation, petro-chemical industries and downstream businesses in Sarawak.

       "With the game-changing understanding we announce today of access to increased supply of gas by 2030 for domestic purposes, we are well placed to implement our Sarawak gas roadmap," he said at the MoU signing ceremony here on Saturday (Dec 11).

       The MoU was signed by Petronas executive vice-president Adif Zulkifli and Petros chief executive Datuk Saau Kakok.

       Petronas chairman Tan Sri Mohd Bakke Salleh said the increase in gas supply under the MoU would support Sarawak's aspirations to attract investments from new, high value-adding industries into the state.

       "It will also provide the necessary impetus for further upstream exploration that would strengthen the state's hydrocarbon resource base," he said.

       He added that Petronas looked forward to continued support from the state government and Petronas for the smooth implementation of future projects in accordance with the MoU.