Centralised Utility Facility Completed

The Centralised Utility Facitility (CUF) in Gebeng Industrial area, which operates independently of the national grid, is ready to exploit its commercial viability.

The CUF is owned by Petronas Gas Bhd (PGB) and situated in the petrochemical corridor between Kuantan in the state of Pahang and Kertih in the state of Terengganu.

The CUF will generate power from natural gas and is less prone to lighting and power surges in the grid, making it an efficient source of utilities.

Among the types of the energy to be produced by the CUF include steam, electricity and industrial gases and other specific services to the integrated petrochemical complexes in the Gebeng Industrial area. It is designed and built solely for the production of utilities to achieve economies of scale and increased reliability and availability of supply.

According to the industry sources the availability of such a facility will enable petrochemical giants within Gebeng and Kertih industrial areas to save up to 20 per cent of operating and investment costs as they would not need to build infrastructure to generate utilities. "With the CUF, the respective plants within the integrated petrochemical complex will be able to reduce their initial investment outlay and more importantly they can focus on their core business, thus enhancing overall productivity.As the CUF plant will be the 'heart' of the Integrated Petrochemical Complex (IPC), Petronas Gas Bhd has taken every step to ensure the reliability of the products and services", said the official of the company.

In addition, the design of the CUF facilities allows it to expand in the future to accommodate the requirement of potential future investors at the existing Phase III and planned Phase IV of the Gebeng Industrial Estate.

The CUF project represents a strategic and long-term investment for Petronas Gas Berhad. The project is expected to provide the company with an additional source of income from secured high-volume customers and eventually transform PGB into a well-positioned utility player to capitalise on niche markets. PGB has secured a 21-year licence to supply energy to industries at the Eastern Corridor.