IEEE Curtin Malaysia Student Branch organises visits to power and smelting plants in Bintulu

Miri – 27 August 2018 – The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Student Branch of Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) recently organised visits for 34 of its student members to Sarawak Energy’s Tanjung Kidurong power plant and OM Materials’ ferroalloy smelting plant in Bintulu.

Accompanying the students were senior lecturers Dr. Garenth Lim King Hann and Dr. Law Kah Haw.

The visits, which were supported by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Engineering and Science, were aimed at giving the students an opportunity to gain insights into industrial operations and relate concepts and theories learned in the classroom to them.

At the Tanjung Kidurong power plant, a gas-fired power plant commissioned in 1991, the students were briefed on its history and development. This was followed by a tour of the main control room and other areas for a better understanding of its grid system and transmission assets.

At OM Materials’ ferroalloy smelting plant, the students were warmly greeted by the staff and given a presentation on the company’s business model and product lines. They were later given a tour of the production floor followed by a Q&A session with OM Materials engineers.

The ferroalloy smelting plant, established in 1994, specialises in metal trading and the distribution of manganese ore products.

Third-year Electrical Power Engineering student and IEEE’s co-head of community outreach, Alvin Lau Siew Nam, said he learned a lot from the visits where he observed much of what he has learned at the university being applied in real life at the plants.

“Bintulu has tremendous economic potential given the many industries that operate there and I really look forward to gaining more knowledge and insights there again,” said Lau.

Second-year Electrical and Electronic Engineering student Olivia Maling, meanwhile, said the visits not only exposed her to the real-life work environments at the plants but also the career opportunities available to graduates in her field.

According to Dr. Law, such industrial visits are a key component of all the engineering courses at Curtin Malaysia, giving students valuable insights into the practical applications of their course subjects, industry practices and challenges, and career prospects.

Dr. Lim said the students are highly appreciative of the visits as there is nothing better than getting a first-hand look and hands-on feel of what goes on in industry.

“This enrichment of the student experience is something Curtin is very well known for,” he remarked.

He added that Curtin’s Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (Honours), which is fully accredited by both Engineers Australia and the Board of Engineers Malaysia, equips students with industry-driven knowledge and skills and ensures they are job-ready as soon as they graduate.

The course provides students with fundamental and state-of-art knowledge relevant to industry with theory, computer simulation and practical components. Teaching staff with industrial experience and strong connections with industry partners present opportunities for extensive exposure to industry practice.

For more information on the course, visit courses.curtin.edu.my.

The students and lecturers at the Tanjung Kidurong power plant.

Posing for group photo at OM Materials Sdn Bhd ferroalloys smelting plant.

Site engineer explaining operations at OM Materials.