KOTA KINABALU: Residents living near the Sabah onshore gas pipeline route can now breathe a sigh of relief. Safety measures along the 150-kilometre route have been strengthened.
The strengthening comes through the establishment of the Sabah Onshore Gas Pipeline Corridor Committee (JKKPGDS), jointly led by the Sabah Energy Commission (ECoS) and the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (JKKP).
ECoS Chief Executive Officer Datuk Ir. Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid said the committee’s first meeting was held on Nov 5 last year.
The meeting detailed the scope of duties and coordinated enforcement actions in the state’s gas pipeline route areas.
“This first meeting specifically discussed the scope and responsibilities of the committee. We also heard presentations from PETRONAS and Sabah Energy Corporation (SEC), as the gas pipeline operators in Sabah, on the current risk status and enforcement issues along the 150km gas pipeline route in the state,” he said in a statement yesterday.
He said the establishment of the committee followed a joint coordination workshop involving more than 52 government agencies and stakeholders held last year.
The committee brings together various security, technical and local authority agencies including the National Security Council (MKN), the Chief Government Security Office (CGSO), the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), and the Department of Minerals and Geoscience (JMG).
In line with ECoS’s regulatory powers under the Gas Supply Enactment 2023, the Guidelines for Safety Management of the Gas Pipeline Distribution Corridor in Sabah is now at the final stage of updating after taking into account all technical input from relevant agencies.
Also members of the committee are the Office of Internal Affairs and Research (PHEDNP), the Sabah Ministry of Local Government and Housing (KKTP), the Public Works Department (JKR), the Lands and Surveys Department (JTU), the Town and Regional Planning Department (JPBW), the Sabah Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO), Sabah Oil & Gas Development Corporation (SOGDC), and Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP).
