Samalaju temporary workers camp project: The Amazing Race to deliver on spec, on time progresses

Monday, 10 January 2011, Samalaju – They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Indeed pictures taken earlier today of construction works at CMS’ project to get ready one block of housing for workers at the Samalaju Industrial Park show the rapid progress of works on site in just under one week.

According to SBU Head and CEO of Samalaju Industries (formally known as Similajau Industries), Isaac Lugun, “We have made tremendous progress on the temporary workers’ camp by the end of last weekend. On Tuesday last week, 4 January, we had pictures that showed only half of the concrete floor slabs of the housing block, and nothing else. Today’s pictures show we have completed more than half of the building block, with concrete floor, walls, windows and roof structure. By Friday this week, we hope to have the canteen and kitchen block up. Work on its concrete slab flooring starts today.”

It has been sleepless nights for the project team, both on site and for those working from CMS’ office in Kuching. “The team works from 7 am and finishes at 4 am the next morning”, explained Goh Chii Yew, Manager – Project Development, Samalaju Development SBU.

With the long hours and huge daily challenges to face up to in ensuring efficient project management of the temporary workers’ camp, additional resources of manpower and machinery were brought in towards the end of last week.

Adding to the complexity of meeting a very tight deadline to deliver the operating camp by 1 February 2011 is the challenge to put in place an interim water and power supply to the area. “With everyone, be it from CMS’ various units and externally, chipping in, we believe that delivering the camp On Spec, On time is do-able!”, says Isaac Lugun.

Samalaju Property Development, a joint venture company comprising Samalaju Industries, Naim Cendera and Bintulu Development Authority (BDA), is responsible for the development of temporary workers’ camp facilities for construction workers of industries locating to Samalaju Industrial Park.

The JV will also manage the said camps, as well as undertake developments at the new Samalaju township (estimated to be 5,200 acres in size) and other property development works at Samalaju.

With the combined hydro-electric power from the Bakun and Murum dams, at least five major global industries are expected to locate to Samalaju over the next five years. The first industry to locate to Samalaju is Tokuyama Corporation of Japan which will be constructing a poly-silicon plant starting in February 2011. Completion of the Plant is scheduled within 24 months. It is estimated that at the peak of construction, at least 4,000 construction workers will require housing. A further 600 employees will need to be housed when the Plant is operational.