Phase 3 Basong Water Treatment Plant Project achieves 15.1 percent progress

MUKAH, 2 October: Phase 3 Basong Water Treatment Plant Construction Project worth RM243.98 million achieves 15.1 percent progress, which is 14.3 percent higher than the scheduled.

Sarawak's Minister of Utility and Telecommunications, Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi, said the project which started in September 2025 is expected to be completed by September 2028.

"This means that the project is progressing a little faster than the original schedule. We will also monitor from time to time", he said after visiting the Basong Water Treatment Plant, here today.

He said the fully funded project involves construction of a new water treatment plant with capacity of 60 million litres per day and installation of 18 kilometres long raw water pipes with a diameter of 1,000 millimeters.

He said, Mukah now has 11 water treatment plants, with Basong Water Treatment Plant having the highest production capacity, which is 60 million litres per day.

"Based on current data, the existing capacity is sufficient to meet water supply needs in the Open Region, but we need to increase capacity to meet future demand", he said.

Through the expansion project, Basong Water Treatment Plant capacity will be increased from 60 million to 120 million litres per day.

Julaihi said that the water supply planning also takes into account the challenges of raw water sources, especially during summer which could affect the operation of water treatment plants.

He said, comprehensive planning is needed to ensure adequate water supply for population and industry use in line with the Government of Sarawak's targets by 2030.

"By 2030, we must have sufficient water supplies. Water supply is not only for public use, but also for industrial use", he said.

He said the development of Sarawak water supply was implemented on the basis of the Sarawak Water Supply Mother Plan and Sarawak Water Supply Grid System, including system development in Central Region which includes Mukah, Sarikei, Sibu and Kapit.

For rural areas that have not yet been fully connected to the grid system, he said, the government will continue assistance through Sarawak Alternative Water Supply System.

"The implementation of the water supply project will continue to be monitored to ensure that construction works go according to plan and deadline", he said.