RM7.2 Billion Solar Glass Factory in Kimanis

Two investment-related events were formalised on 13 November 2024 for the giant business entity, SBH Kibing Solar New Energy (M) Sdn Bhd’s new RM7.2 billion solar glass manufacturing plant at Kimanis, southwest of Sabah. The first event was the exchange of the sublease agreement between SBH Kibing Solar New Energy (M) Sdn Bhd and Fokasrama Sdn Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of State-owned Sawit Kinabalu Group.

The second event was the exchange of documents between SBH Kibing Solar New Energy (M) Sdn Bhd and Sabah Energy Corporation Sdn Bhd (SEC), also a Government Linked Companies (GLC), to supply 45 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of natural gas to the new factory's operations. SBH Kibing Solar New Energy (M) Sdn Bhd’s state-of-the-art solar glass manufacturing plant is expected to be one of the region’s largest facilities of its kind.

The State Government sees the partnership as another move to expand Sabah's renewable energy infrastructure, and to enhance its global solar energy market position. For energy supply - as a key provider of natural gas provider - SEC continues to play an important role in driving regional economic growth through reliable and cleaner energy solutions.Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor – who witnessed the exchange of documents - said that the new investment is significant in generating further economic growth for Sabah and creating employment opportunities for the local communities.

Datuk Victor Ationg, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Sawit Kinabalu Group signed for Fokasrama Sdn Bhd; and William Chen, Chairman of SBH Kibing Solar New Energy (M) Sdn Bhd., signed for the Kibling Group. Datuk Adzmir Abd Rahman, Chief Executive Officer of SEC, and Celine Li, Deputy Managing Director of SBH Kibing Solar New Energy (M) Sdn Bhd, represented their respective groups.