Article

The Ministry of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government recently underscored the significance of lessons learned from Xiangyang as they pertain to Sarawak's Post-COVID Development Strategy 2030. The focus areas include the circular economy, advanced sludge treatment technologies, and the generation of renewable energy from waste. This proactive engagement reflects the state government's commitment to modernizing sewage infrastructure and services, ensuring that they are resilient and sustainable.

Continued investment in innovative technologies and strategic international partnerships positions Sarawak to transform sewage management into a vital component of environmental protection and public health enhancement. Such initiatives promise long-term economic resilience, as articulated by the ministry.

A delegation comprising key officials, including the Director of the Sewerage Services Department Sarawak, Datu Ir. Ts. Richard Tajan, and others from the state financial secretary’s office, undertook a working visit to Xiangyang. They toured the Guanyinge sewage treatment plant, which boasts a treatment capacity of 200,000 tonnes per day through advanced biological processes, and the Yuliangzhou sewage treatment facility, designed for complex urban wastewater loads with a combined capacity of 300,000 tonnes per day.

Their visit also included the Xiangyang City Urban Sludge and Kitchen Waste Treatment Centre, operational since 2014. This innovative facility captures biogas from sewage sludge, food waste, and organic liquids, converting these byproducts into biodiesel, compressed natural gas, and biochar.

Additionally, it is exploring the production of green hydrogen and carbon nanomaterials, further exemplifying a commitment to a circular economy model. Such advancements highlight the potential for Sarawak to lead in sustainable waste management practices, ultimately benefiting public health and the environment.