ASB to expand offshore support facility to Kota Belud

LABUAN: Asian Supply Base (ASB) Sdn. Bhd, chief executive officer (CEO), Dato’ Harris Annuar Tan, has disclosed that Asian Supply Base (ASB) is looking towards expanding its marine offshore support facilities to Kuala Abai, Kota Belud.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, he said the facility is meant to support the oil and gas industry in the northern part of Sabah in exploration and production activity.

“We are studying the feasibility of its implementation at Kuala Abai and ASB will become the management consultant for the project,” he said, adding that ASB was also keen to look at Sipitang as its next area of interest.

ASB’s expansion to Sipitang would serve as a back up for the industry here in this island, he said.

Earlier, Harris handed over donations to several charity organisations here at the Grand Dorsett Labuan Hotel.

When asked, he disclosed that ASB is considering expanding of its facility for the future development of the oil and gas industry here on this island and it is primarily undertaking upstream activities.

“We are improving our jetty facilities by having another five additional berths, warehouses, open stage areas and other facilities to meet the challenges in the oil and gas industry.

“The requirement of the oil and gas industry is ever growing and we are keen to turn ASB into a world-class supply base in the Asia region,” he said, adding that the supply base was the catalyst for oil and gas exploration.

Harris further said that Labuan is strategically located to serve for the oil and gas industry not only in Sabah and Sarawak, but for the whole of the South East Asia region.

Harris said, some companies were still coming to do their oil and gas activities in Labuan as the industry here is expected to continue growing in the next few years.

“ASB is doing progressively well each year with the support of major oil and gas companies such as Shell, Petronas, Murphy Oil and some others. Currently, we have 80 companies and 17 of them are exploration companies. We expect the government to support us in our business expansion to make the industry here grow further.

“We also expect the local authority of Labuan Corporation to work with ASB to meet the requirements of the oil and gas activity here in Labuan,” he said.

Meanwhile, at last year’s oil and gas expo here, the federal territory and urban well-being minister, Datuk Raja Nong Chik Datuk Raja Zainal Abidin announced that the government would provide RM250 million for ASB’s development here.

ASB is a state government link company (GLC) under the Sabah Energy Corporation Sdn. Bhd.

Source : Borneo Post