Sabah's largest clinker and cement plant set to start construction by year-end

The proposed cement and clinker plant in Sabah's interior Nabawan district.

KOTA KINABALU: A RM2bil clinker and cement plant in Sabah is expected to begin construction by the end of the year, says Borneo Cement Sabah (BCS) Sdn Bhd chief executive officer (CEO) Michael Kinsuan.

He said they were waiting for the Environmental Impact Study (EIA) report to be approved by the Environment Department (DOE).

"We will start the first phase of work as soon as we get the green light from the DOE," he said, adding that they were also working with other relevant departments for various approvals for the plant.

The clinker and cement plant is a project undertaken by a local company, Setia Alam Sdn Bhd in collaboration with state-owned Sabah Economic Development Corporation (Sedco) with investments from China-based Sinoma Bhd.

Kinsuan said that the construction of a 26km sealed road would be carried out first from Kampung Matiku to the BCS factory site in Sabah's interior Nabawan district.

Kinsuan also said that the electricity and water supply amenities were being built along with telecommunications towers that would also benefit residents around the area.

Michael Kinsuan.

Kinsuan said that the state government had gazetted a 280ha for the factory site in Bukit Sinobang, Kampung Kawayoi about 130km from Sabah's central Tongod town.

He said that 200ha has been earmarked for the clinker site, while another 80ha for the factory site as well for packaging, administrative office and workers' quarters.

"We will need about 1,000 skilled and semi-skilled workers," he said.

Kinsuan said the area had most of the six main ingredients for clinker production before it could be processed into cement.

He said most of the materials -limestone, coal, clay, sandstone and shale were available in the proposed mine area with only gypsum having to be imported from Indonesia.

Kinsuan said it would be fully equipped with the latest modern and digitally operated machines. This includes a 300m Stone Roller Conveyor from the mine to the cement processing plant.

The company has also built a health clinic in Kampung Kawayoi in addition to upgrading a surau building and church in the area for the people.