Petronas Chemicals Methanol Sdn Bhd (PC Methanol) has helped boost the economic development of Labuan, especially in the industrial, petrochemical and oil and gas industies and improved the living standards of the local community, as reported in New Sabah Times.

Its Managing Director, Datuk Sazali Hamzah, said the methanol was used by almost 60 per cent of the residents in Labuan and Sabah.

"The excellent performance by the Petronas staff, the majority of whom were locals, has helped the company and country to prosper. This can be seen in PC Methanol itself" Sazali, who is also Chief Executive Officer of Petronas Chemical Group Bhd (PCG), told Bernama.

He said currently, PC Methanol's success was also due to the support from government agencies and private sector to help develop the petrochemical industry via the development of infrastructure like electricity, water and support services.

He said the PC Methanol, a subsidiary of PCG, was on a solid foundation to help make Labuan into the region's methanol hub to meet the growing world demand.

"With a production capacity of 2.4 million tonnes per year, PC Methanol is the largest methanol producer in South-East Asia and the the fourth largest in the world.

"PC Methanol also contributes directly to the national economy by increasing exports, acting as a catalyst for the petrochemical industry, promoting the participation of local companies providing services and building materials and creating more jobs" said Sazali.

Sazali said with the building of the second methanol plant, the demand for air, sea and land logistics services would increase to meet demand.

He said the positive development, helped by the petrochemical industry, would help the government achieve the 10th Malaysia Plan targets.

Sazali said although Petronas operated as a commercial entity, it has never abandoned its corporate social responsibility as seen in the various programmes it had undertaken.

"The ongoing efforts aimed at bringing positive benefits to the locals are: contributions to the local community; human capital development; and, environmental conservation" he said.

He said in 2013, PC Methanol teamed up with the local community and Labuan Corporation, Fire and Rescue Department and the Royal Malaysian Police to help conserve the area in Kampung Rancha-Rancha Sea area.

"In 2014, Petronas organised a programme to conserve coastal areas in Taman Damai in addition to fostering beach cleanliness and recycling activities" he said.

Sazali said under the Program Sentuhan Ilmu Petronas, the company will collaborate with its ‘adopted' schools in Labuan-Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Rancha-Rancha, Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Bebuloh and Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Patau-Patau-to help produce students who excelled academically but also adopt sustainable and healthy lifestyles.

Under the ‘Back to School' programme, he said, the students from the ‘adopted' schools would be given text books and materials at the start of the new term to help ease the burdens of their parents.

He said the company also helped communities in need during major festivls under the Program Sentuhan Kasih.

Sazali said PC Methanol, as a responsible company and aware of preserving environment, always carried out its activities as set by Petronas management and the Department of Environment.