THE site of the proposed Sarawak Aluminium Company (Salco) smelter plant, near the Similajau Industrial Park in Bintulu, is specifically chosen because of its strategic location to meet the requirements of industrialists.

Minister of Industrial Development Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan, in his winding up speech in the Dewan Undangan Negeri yesterday, pointed out that the site would also cater for the future need of a new township outside of Bintulu town.

“Bintulu has reached its threshold for the development of more heavy and capital-intensive industries,” he said in reply to a question raised by Chiew Chin Sing (DAP-Kidurong).

Dr Chan, who is a deputy chief minister, said the state government would continue to identify new sources of growth to strengthen and boost the growth of the state economy.

One of the strategies, he said, was to develop heavy and capital-intensive industries as trigger projects under the development of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE), after taking into consideration the state’s niche and comparative advantages.

In the government’s efforts to pursue an orderly and sustainable development, he said they had decided to plan and confine the development of heavy industries within SCORE at the Similajau Industrial Park.

The area was selected based on studies and recommendations made by consultants, he said.

Having said that, Dr Chan told the august house that Similajau Industrial Park would not encroach into the present Similajau National Park, and in fact, a wide buffer zone had been established between Similajau Industrial Park and the Similajau National Park.

Like any other development, he said the development and operation of heavy and capital-intensive industries were strictly governed by rules and regulations as stipulated by both the Federal Acts and State Ordinances.

He added that the development of heavy industries, such as aluminium smelter, fell under the prescribed activities of both the relevant federal and state legislations.

It was mandatory, under the prescribed activities, for the project proponents to carry out Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) that required them to comply with environmental standards and practices before any approval could be granted.

Dr Chan pointed out that the Salco aluminium smelter plant was among the forerunners, and would use the modern pre-bake Hall-Heroult electrolysis process, which was the industry’s benchmark in reliability, energy efficiency, productivity and environmental performance.

He said the technology used was a point-feeder type system with sophisticated process controls and a highly efficient cell gas extraction system.

In this respect, he said air emissions were captured and treated using modern control technology before they were released into the environment.

He added that the smelting of aluminium was a dry process and the only wastewater produced was from cooling water blow down from ingot casting machines. As such, he said water not used would be drained into a retention pond.

“More importantly, all discharges from the plant are to be strictly monitored by the Department of Environment and the Natural Resources and Environment Board to ensure all standards are adhered to at all times,” said Dr Chan.