Hajiji (centre) witnessing the exchange of documents between Adzmir and Li.
KOTA KINABALU: China-based Kibing Group has committed to building a new RM7.2bil solar glass manufacturing plant in the Kimanis area, about 40km south of the Sabah capital, with the exchange of documents involving two state government-linked companies.
The first was the exchange of a sublease agreement between the group's subsidiary SBH Kibing Solar New Energy (M) Sdn Bhd and Fokasrama Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Sawit Kinabalu Group.
The agreement will pave the way for the development of a state-of-the-art solar glass manufacturing plant, set to be one of the largest facilities of its kind in the region.
The second exchange of documents was for the Heads of Agreement between SBH Kibing Solar New Energy (M) Sdn Bhd and Sabah Energy Corporation Sdn Bhd (SEC) to supply 45 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of natural gas to support the new factory's operations.
SBH Kibing had inked a memorandum of understanding with the state government in June to expand its investment in Sabah.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, who witnessed the exchange of documents, said the new investment was significant in generating economic growth for Sabah.
“It will also create employment opportunities for local communities,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (Nov 13).
The development of the plant is part of SBH Kibing’s plan to expand the state's renewable energy infrastructure, enhance its global solar energy market position, and complement the company's existing plant at the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP).
Representing Fokasrama Sdn Bhd was Sawit Kinabalu Group managing director/chief executive officer Datuk Victor Ationg, while SBH Kibing was represented by its chairman William Chen.
Representing SEC was its chief executive officer Datuk Adzmir Abd Rahman and deputy managing director Celine Li for SBH Kibing.
Also present were state Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe, SEC chairman Datuk Annuar Ayub, State Secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong and senior officials representing the signing parties.
The Kibing Group has invested more than RM3bil in the silica sand processing plant and solar glass manufacturing plant in KKIP.
