Explosion rips apart section of Sabah-Sarawak gas pipeline

MIRI - An explosion ripped apart a portion of the RM3bil Sabah to Sarawak interstate gas pipeline project at the stretch between Lawas town and Long Sukang in the northern most district of Sarawak on Tuesday.

The 2am incident resulted in the evacuation of nearby villagers with some houses and vehicles reportedly damaged, said Lawas MP Datuk Henry Sum.

Luckily, no lives were lost in the incident, he said.

A high level investigation have started in Lawas and also in Kuala Lumpur to probe the cause of the incident as the project belong to national oil giant Petronas.

Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department Director Nor Hisham Mohamad said the fire had been brought under control.

The pipeline is meant to channel raw gas from Kimanis in Sabah via a 600km route through Lawas district, across Ulu Baram, into Miri district and onward to Bintulu in northern Sarawak for conversion into gas for export.

By Stephen Then