Seawater Desalination Plant at POIC Lahad Datu, launched

6 January 2026

LAHAD DATU: The JETAMA Seawater Desalination Plant that support industrial water supply needs at POIC Lahad Datu was officially launched today.

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister III and Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport, Datuk Ewon Benedick said the innovation is the first of its kind to be introduced to help address water supply requirements for manufacturing facilities in the area.

“Congratulations to POIC Sabah and JETAMA Water for their collaboration in developing this innovation, which can serve as an in-situ solution to water supply challenges in several parts of Sabah,” he said after launching the plant.

During the visit, Ewon was also briefed on the plant’s operations and the desalination process.

Earlier, he received briefings on the current progress and development plans for POIC Lahad Datu, including the vision to position the area as Sabah’s Eastern Gateway, at the POIC Container Terminal.

“I was briefed on current operations as well as development plans to transform POIC Lahad Datu into Sabah’s Eastern Gateway.

“At present, 46 large-scale industries are operating here, with further capacity for new industrial developments, including within the POIC Free Zone,” he said.

Ewon said that to sustain growth, POIC Lahad Datu requires additional industrial land, particularly following the acquisition of Free Zone status supported by POIC’s port operations.

“I was also briefed on the additional water supply through an industrialised water innovation developed by JETAMA Water specifically for industries at POIC Lahad Datu, to help address water supply issues within the industrial park,” he said.

In this regard, he stressed the need to review existing policies related to the development of industrial parks across Sabah in order to strengthen the authority of industrial park management bodies.

“The Ministry of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport (MINDET) Sabah will continue to support POIC Lahad Datu as one of the state’s key industrial parks that must be developed as Sabah’s Eastern Gateway,” he said.

He later visited the Legenda Bumimas factory.

Ewon expressed full support for the development of downstream palm oil industries in Sabah, including at POIC Lahad Datu, encompassing the biomass sector.

“Several initiatives are being implemented, including continuous engagement with CPO mills throughout Sabah and the formulation of a specific enactment to encourage the development of palm oil-based downstream industries in Sabah, including biomass.

“I appreciate the domestic investment made by Legenda Bumimas, which deserves support from the ministry,” he said.

He then toured Genting Biorefinery, which is involved in biodiesel production, and noted that the company is among the earliest enterprises to operate at POIC Lahad Datu and employs an entirely local workforce.

Also present during the visit were Assistant Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport Datuk Jonnybone J. Kurum; Permanent Secretary of MINDET Datuk Thomas Logijin; POIC Sabah Chairman Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau; Deputy Chairman of POIC Sabah Datuk Janathan Kandok; heads of government departments and agencies; and senior officers of POIC Sabah.