MUKAH COAL FIRED POWER PLANT
PROVIDING SARAWAK'S ENERGY NEEDS
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Cahya Mata Sarawak was proud to complete its latest mega project, the Mukah Coal Fired Power Plant (MPP) in September 2008.
The Mukah Coal-Fired Power Plant comprises two units of 135 MW coal-fired boiler-turbine generators which are to supply power to the future coastal grid stretching from Balingian to Sarikei, and to the state-wide power grid linking major cities and towns in Sarawak. |
Fast Facts on Mukah Coal-Fired Power Plant Project:
- Located on an 865-acre site beside the sea, at the intersection of Sibu-Mukah Road and Balingian-Mukah Road.
- PPES Works undertook the civil works portion of 2 X 135 MW Coal-Fired Power Station.
- PPES Works was the turnkey contractor for all works in the Non-Plant Zone comprising infrastructure works, site-clearing and earth works, construction of buildings in the Administration zone, stores, workshop, staff housing and supporting amenities.
- PPES Works was also a sub-contractor for the on-shore portion of civil works for the Plant Zone - the Main Power block, flue gas system, coal handling system, and other infrastructure and water-related systems including the ash pond and cooling pond.
- The Mukah Coal-Fired Power Plant uses large coal deposits found in the Mukah-Balingian area.
- The power plant will provide approximately 15% of the State’s increasing needs for adequate power.
- Project Ground-breaking: April 2006 by Chief Minister of Sarawak
- Project completed: September 2008
- Commissioning of 1st Power Turbine: November 2008
- Commissioning of 2nd Power Turbine (Tentative date): March 2009
PPES WORKS COMPLETES TWO KEY PROJECTS
 Monday, 25 August 2008, Kuching – CMS’ construction arm, PPES Works, announced the completion and hand-over of two more projects that are significant to the State of Sarawak – the Islamic Information Centre (Pusat Islam) and the new Kuching Campus for Swinburne University of Technology.
Chief Minister of Sarawak Pehin Sri Hj Abdul Taib Mahmud officially opened the uniquely designed Islamic Information Centre on 17 August 2008, and the new Kuching Campus for Swinburne University of Technology on 23 August 2008. Both projects are located at Jalan Ong Tiang Swee in Kuching.
Commenting on the completion of the projects, Robert Gardner, PPES Works Executive Director, said “PPES Works was proud to have delivered another two iconic buildings that will be of great benefit to the State of Sarawak.”
 The Islamic Information Centre will serve as an important resource facility, both for new converts to Islam and to all others who seek to improve their knowledge of the religion. It is made up of six inter-connected buildings – namely Auditorium, Administration Block, Male Hostel, Female Hostel, Surau and Library, and Barok (function hall). The architecture is inspired by ethnic design elements of the Chinese, Iban, Malay, Melanau and Orang Ulu communities.
Robert Gardner said that “Pusat Islam was a very challenging project and required the dogged determination of our site staff to overcome the logistics of importing materials from China and Belgium, and flying in specialist tradesmen from China and Uzbekistan. In addition the use of modern materials in the construction of traditional structures required significant practical construction input from our supervisory staff to assist the Owner’s Consultant Team in the development of the design.”
 Almost next door is the new Kuching Campus for Swinburne University of Technology. With a projected enrolment of 2,500 undergraduate students this year, the campus is the largest internationally-oriented university in Kuching.
The new campus now includes eight new buildings comprising classroom blocks, conference and multi-purpose hall facilities, student hostels, a multi-storey car park as well as sports facilities,
The Chief Minister of Sarawak said in his keynote address that local campuses of educational institutions helped to meet the State’s growing demand for a highly educated workforce in the face of industrialisation.
Robert Gardner said ‘I am proud that the Project was completed on schedule, and that we were able to assist both the Client and the University in undertaking this very important project. Our site staff did an excellent job in keeping the existing university facilities fully operational during the construction of what was a very congested site.”
Going forward, Robert Gardner says that PPES Works is now focused on delivering three more iconic projects to the State of Sarawak namely, the civil works for the new Coal-fired Power Station in Mukah, the new Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) complex at Petra Jaya, and the new Borneo Convention Centre Kuching located on the Kuching Isthmus.
A positive review of the Sungai Sebuyau Bridge, a project undertaken by PPES Works.
The Borneo Post, 11 June 2008. "Five Divisions for Agropolis Programme" (more).
To read more on the Prime Minister's official launching of the Sungai Sebuyau Bridge, please go to NST Online, 20 June 2008 (more).
PM OFFICIATES THE OPENING OF SG. SEBUYAU BRIDGE
Wednesday, 11 June 2008, Sebuyau: The Sg. Sebuyau Bridge which is part of the completed RM53 million Kpg Buloh-Sebuyau Coastal Road Project constructed by PPES Works was officially opened by the Prime Minister Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Samarahan Division yesterday.
As the turnkey contractor, PPES Works’ commenced construction of the 171 metre, two-lane, Sungai Sebuyau Bridge in December 2001. Built at a cost of RM6.8 million, the Sg. Sebuyau Bridge provides a direct linkage of the areas around Sg. Buloh/Sebuyau across Sg. Sebuyau.
The bridge is part of Sarawak’s Coastal Road Programme spanning a total road length of 923.4 km which will eventually link up all coastal areas from Sematan in the south up to Miri Division in the north.
The Chief Minister of Sarawak, Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, was also present at the ceremony which drew crowds from the public, governmental agencies, political factions, community leaders and corporations.
In his speech, the Chief Minister said that the Coastal Road Programme would raise the living standards of many lower income settlers in the coastal areas and would help to wipe out rural poverty. The road would also serve to open up vast land-banks for agricultural development.
PPES Works Executive Director, Robert Gardner said “The Project Manager, Kuang Ik Bou and his team did a very good job under difficult circumstances. The site is remote and presented logistical challenges in providing machinery, materials and manpower to the workplace. In addition, the soils in the vicinity of the Sebuyau Bridge are very weak and required innovative engineering solutions from the design engineer to overcome severe problems of slope failure and pile movement.”
Present to witness the official opening were representatives from CMS who included Deputy Group Managing Director, Tuan Syed Ahmad Alwee Alsree, and other senior officials.
A positive review of the Kuching-Sri Aman Road, a project undertaken by PPES Works and CMS Pavement Tech.
Utusan Sarawak, 1 Dec 2007. "Be Careful When Driving On Upgraded Roads" (more)
PPES WORKS COMPLETES BULOH-SEBUYAU COASTAL ROAD
Friday, 12 October 2007, SEBUYAU: The completed Buloh - Sebuyau Coastal Road will help to boost the shoreline economy and open up access routes between the town of Sebuyau to Samarahan and Kuching.
Deputy Chief Minister and Rural Development Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, who visited the area yesterday, symbolically presented the RM 53 million coastal road to the people as a “Hari Raya gift” from the Government.
“The road will not only make for a faster and smoother journey but also make easier transportation of commodities and raw materials out of Sebuyau and its surrounding areas,” said Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, who is also Infrastructure, Development and Communication Minister.
The coastal road project consists of 17.4 km of road connecting Kampung Buloh to Sebangan town, 6.8 km of road surrounding Kampung Pasir Sebuyau and 2.7 km of road linking the coastal road to Sebuyau town.
It also boasts two ferry points as well as three new bridges over Sungai Sebuyau, Sungai Sebangan and Sungai Ladong. PPES Works is the turnkey contractor.
The Buloh - Sebuyau Coastal Road , which opens up the area to motorists and travelers, will boost the coastal economy by widening markets for traders of coconut, the area's main commodity. Motorists can now cross Batang Sadong and Batang Saribas via Sungai Buloh ferries and the Pusa ferry point respectively.
The Chief Minister of Sarawak , Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud is expected to officiate at the launch of the project in 2008.
At one point, the Buloh - Sebuyau Coastal Road begins at Kampung Sebangan, traversing Batang Sadong and ending at Kampung Buloh at the opposite riverbank. From its second point, the coastal road begins at the Sungai Sebuyau Bridge , circling Batang Mambai and linking Batang Lupar before ending at Triso.
Commissioned by JKR, PPES Works headed the survey, investigation, design, construction and completion of the Buloh - Sebuyau Coastal Road .
NEW DUN BUILDING TOPPING UP CEREMONY
Sunday, 16 September 2007 , Kuching: The symbolic crowning of the new Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Sarawak building took place today in a topping-up ceremony graced by Sarawak State Legislative Assembly members.
The topping-up ceremony saw the Chief Minister of Sarawak, Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, pour concrete onto the flooring of Level 8 of the DUN Building. Level 8 also forms the floor of the future DUN Chamber which boasts a dome-shaped ceiling of 27 metres height, equivalent to seven regular storeys high.
The Chief Minister was assisted by the Speaker of DUN Sarawak, Dato Sri Haji Mohammad Asfia Awang Nassar and the two Deputy Chief Ministers, Datuk Patinggi Dr George Chan Hong Nam and Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu.
Earlier in his speech, the Chief Minister described the new DUN Building as a symbol of sovereignity in Sarawak which is based on the people's struggle, unity and progress.
“The new DUN Building is the highest symbol of a legislature which projects the character of the people who are free to decide their own fate. This sovereignty must come from the people, be nurtured by the people and in turn the people must work hard to make sure it will get loyalty and support”, said Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
Located on a hill beside the Sarawak River, the new DUN Building will soar to a height of 114 metres. Its unique and grand design, based on a 9-pointed star, will comprise 9 levels. A 50 metre-wide umbrealla-shaped “Payung Negara” roof will cap the building with a total floor space of 47,747 sq. metres.
On its location beside the Sarawak River, Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud explained that the DUN Building would act as an integrating force for Kuching city by bringing together development on both sides of the river.
“With the new DUN Building, the river no longer becomes a barrier but an integrating force of the old and new parts of Kuching city. With its lush landscaping, the DUN Building will add to Kuching's tag as a garden city”, said Pehin Sri Taib.
Development of the new DUN building is being undertaken by a joint-venture between PPES Works (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd and Naim Cendera Sdn Bhd. Hand-over of site by Jabatan Kerja Raya was made in July 2005.
“The DUN building is targeted for completion in March 2008”, announced the DUN Speaker, Dato Sri Haji Mohammad Asfia.
Able to house 108 members, the architectural masterpiece combines elements of Sarawak's culture and heritage with state-of-the-art “smart building” automation systems, multimedia communication facilities and environmentally-friendly features.
The DUN building has integrated information & communication technologies to increase the productivity of the Dewan, while its visual beauty will serve as an icon of the Government institution as well as a showcase of unique architectural features rarely found in this part of the world.
Other features of the DUN complex include a parade ground beside the waterfront, offices for each DUN member, a State Banquet Hall, and car parks for 900 cars when all three phases are completed.
“The new DUN complex is a manifestation of the Chief Minister's vision to create a grand building, a symbol worthy of the importance of responsibility held by the Legislative system,” said Dato Sri Haji Mohammad Asfia.
The current DUN building, built in 1974, had the capacity to house just 48 elected members. Today, the DUN Sarawak has 71 members.
Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak was established in 1867 and enjoys the distinction of being the oldest in Malaysia.
 
PPES WORKS HOSTS VALUE ENGINEERING TALK
Tuesday, 28 August 2007, Kuching – PPES Works (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd held a successful Luncheon Talk on “Value Engineering” late last week at Kingwood Inn for 55 attendees from CMS Group subsidiaries, the Public Works Department and external consultants.
The Luncheon Talk addressed the challenge of creating “value engineering” for two dominant issues - optimising design for buildings and foundations, and overcoming problems of road construction in soft ground.
The first part of the talk covered Industrialised Building System (IBS) methods of “real structure analysis”, based on the British Standards Guidelines which are said to significantly improve ordinary engineering design of buildings and foundations as opposed to a traditional “theoretical analysis.”
The second topic was on building roads, and ways to avoid potential differential ground-movements encountered in building on soft ground. The presentation posed the use of continuous reinforced concrete pavement as a structural solution.
Ir. Zulhkiple Abu Bakar, Managing Director of Peninsular-based consultant group, Perunding ZNA, made both presentations.
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