KOTA KINABALU: Tourists from Brunei can now refuel with RON97 petrol at the PETRONAS station in Kimanis, following the launch of a pilot project aimed at addressing fuel supply shortages in Sabah’s West Coast South region.
“But foreign vehicles are only permitted to purchase unsubsidised RON97 fuel,” said Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
The initiative, introduced by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry in collaboration with PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad (PDB), was in response to complaints, particularly from Bruneian travellers, over the limited availability of RON97 fuel.
Armizan said the Kimanis station was identified as a strategic location due to its position along the Pan Borneo Highway, some 205km from Bandar Seri Begawan and en route to Kota Kinabalu.
“This pilot test will utilise a Mini Portable Container System (PCS) with a capacity of 5,000 litres during the trial period, prior to full implementation,” he said during a media briefing in Kimanis on Saturday (May 2).
He explained that the trial phase allows for a thorough assessment of the fuel storage and sales system’s efficiency, financial viability, and logistics to ensure long-term sustainability.
At present, RON97 is only available at 37 out of 260 petrol stations across Sabah, primarily due to low demand and the risk of financial losses.
The nearest stations offering RON97 are located in Lintas-Kepayan, Jalan Mat Salleh, and Penampang.
According to the Royal Malaysian Customs Department, more than 156,000 Brunei-registered vehicles entered Malaysia between 2023 and 2024.
In light of this, the ministry is taking appropriate steps to ensure that the lack of RON97 supply does not affect tourist arrivals, while also ensuring that the fuel is available to locals who choose to use it.
The route from Bandar Seri Begawan to Kota Kinabalu passes through Limbang and Lawas in Sarawak, and Sipitang, Beaufort, Kimanis, and Papar in Sabah.
Armizan launched the initiative during a site visit, accompanied by the ministry’s director-general Datuk Azman Adam, PETRONAS Dagangan Berhad chief operating officer Azureen Azita Abdullah, and AJ Petromart partner Josephine Lim.
