KUANTAN: The Pahang government will hold further talks with their Terengganu counterpart to finalise the price for the treated water purchased from Kemaman, Terengganu, for the Gebeng industrial area site here.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said they hoped the Terengganu government would consider reducing the current rate of RM1.40 for every cubic meter.
"The Pahang and Terengganu state governments will discuss the rate, and it will involve Pengurusan Air Pahang Berhad (Paip) and Terengganu's Satu (Syarikat Air Terengganu Sdn Bhd).
"They(Terengganu) are offering the water at RM1.40 (per cubic meter) but we have asked them to look at the possibility to reduce it and it is up to them. However, we hope they(Terengganu) can consider (to review the price)," he told reporters after jointly launching the water distribution pipeline project with Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar at Gebeng here today.
Earlier, the East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) handed over the 29.8km Kemaman-Gebeng water distribution pipeline that would ensure a reliable supply of treated water from Kemaman to the Gebeng industrial area here.
The RM115million Kemaman-Gebeng water distribution pipe involved laying a 24km pipe in Pahang and a 5km pipe in Terengganu. It will supply more than 90 million litres of water a day.
Meanwhile, Wan Rosdy said the completion of the project will address the long-standing water security challenges in Gebeng and help to lure more investors to set up their plants here.
"The pipeline will ensure stable treated water supply to meet the commercial and domestic demands in Gebeng, and cater for residents living in the vicinity," he said.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Samsuri described the project as a strategic initiative for Terengganu to share resources with Pahang for mutual development.
"The pipeline supplying clean water will support the growth and security of water supply for industrial areas in Gebeng and the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP)," he said.
ECERDC chief executive officer Datuk Baidzawi Che Mat, in his speech, said apart from addressing industrial demands, the pipeline symbolises strong economic ties between both two states, to foster regional development through resource-sharing and strategic partnerships.