OM Sarawak celebrates 10 years of growth, resilience, community impact

BINTULU (Oct 30): OM Materials (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd (OM Sarawak), a wholly owned subsidiary of OM Holdings Limited (OMH), marked its 10th anniversary with a celebratory gala dinner in Bintulu on Tuesday, under the theme ‘Revitalising the Industry for a Sustainable Future’.

The event, attended by 280 delegates, was graced by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

The event also saw participation from other members of the Sarawak Legislative Assembly, head of departments, community leaders, and representatives of federal and state government departments and agencies.

In his speech, OMH executive chairman and chief executive officer Low Ngee Tong reflected on a decade of progress, and shared his vision for OM Sarawak.

“Through the years, we’ve invested more than US$550 million, and this investment has grown into the single largest smelter in the region, outside China,” he said.

He added that OM Sarawak will continue to play a crucial role in supporting steel makers in the region, providing a stable supply of alloys.

“Our goal is to continue engaging with all local stakeholders, from contractors and service providers to local employees, and to become an integral part of Sarawak’s economic ecosystem.

“In 2023 alone, OM Sarawak added RM840 million to Sarawak’s economy, directly and indirectly,” he said.

On localisation efforts, Low proudly stated the achievement of reaching 80 per cent local workforce, a sevenfold increase since OM Sarawak began operations.

“We have invested significantly in training and development, with over 170,000 training hours recorded last year. From specialised technical training to leadership development, with an emphasis on safety and environmental management.”

Looking ahead, he said OM Sarawak’s vision includes developing a sustainable business model through sustainable initiatives like tree planting, harvesting and replanting to produce charcoal as a renewable alternative to coal.

“We are also studying the recovery of waste heat energy from our existing smelting operations to convert into clean energy.

“Initial assessment of this project showed an estimated power generation of up to 70MW, boosting power efficiency and reducing our environmental footprint,” he said.

He added OM Sarawak was also prioritising operational excellence, with a focus on optimising its furnace systems.

This, he said, includes studying the reconfiguration of its existing furnaces and replacing some with larger, more advanced technology that incorporates environmental features.

“To support these upgrades, we anticipate a capital investment of up to US$250 million over the next five to 10 years.”

OM Sarawak is OMH’s flagship smelter located in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy at Samalaju Industrial Park.

The smelter runs predominantly on renewable hydropower and lies in the centre of Southeast Asia, well sited along global trade routes.

OMH is a manganese and silicon smelting company, with vertical exposure in mining and trading.

The Group is engaged in the business of trading raw ores, smelting, and marketing of processed ferroalloys.

With over 25 years in the industry, OMH is listed on both the ASX and Bursa Malaysia and has operations across Australia, China, Malaysia, Singapore and South Africa.

Today, the Group is one of the region’s largest producers of ferroalloys and seeks to be the main ferroalloy supply partner to major steel mills and other industries.